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Overexpression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule protein is associated with favorable prognosis in an unselected cohort of ovarian cancer patients

  • Original Article – Cancer Research
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic influence of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in an unselected cohort of ovarian cancer (OC) patients.

Methods

Expression of EpCAM was determined by immunohistochemistry in an unselected cohort of 117 patients with OC. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses adjusted for age, tumor stage, histological grading, histological subtype, postoperative tumor burden and completeness of chemotherapy were performed in order to determine the prognostic influence of EpCAM. The Kaplan–Meier method is used to estimate survival rates.

Results

Univariable Cox regression analysis showed that overexpression of EpCAM is associated with favorable prognosis in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.011) and disease-specific survival (DSS) (p = 0.003). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, overexpression of EpCAM retains its significance independent of established prognostic factors for longer PFS [hazard ratios (HR) 0.408, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.197–0.846, p = 0.003] but not for PFS (HR 0.666, 95 % CI 0.366–1.212, p = 0.183). Kaplan–Meier plots demonstrate an influence on 5-year PFS rates (0 vs. 27.6 %, p = 0.048) and DSS rates (11.8 vs. 54.0 %, p = 0.018).

Conclusions

These findings support the hypothesis that the expression of EpCAM is associated with favorable prognosis in OC.

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Acknowledgments

Parts of the here presented results derive from the doctoral thesis of Ms. Sina Jakobi.

Conflict of interest

The authors state that no conflicts of interests are to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    Marco Johannes Battista, Sina Jakobi, Joscha Steetskamp, Georgios Makris, Isabel Sicking & Marcus Schmidt

  2. Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    Cristina Cotarelo

  3. Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    Veronika Weyer

Authors
  1. Marco Johannes Battista
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  2. Cristina Cotarelo
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  3. Sina Jakobi
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  4. Joscha Steetskamp
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  5. Georgios Makris
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  6. Isabel Sicking
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  7. Veronika Weyer
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  8. Marcus Schmidt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marco Johannes Battista.

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Battista, M.J., Cotarelo, C., Jakobi, S. et al. Overexpression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule protein is associated with favorable prognosis in an unselected cohort of ovarian cancer patients. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 140, 1097–1102 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-014-1672-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-014-1672-9

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