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High density of CD66b in primary high-grade ovarian cancer independently predicts response to chemotherapy

  • Original Article – Cancer Research
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Abstract

Purpose

Ovarian carcinoma (OC) is the most lethal female genital cancer. After a primary curative surgical approach followed by chemotherapy, a fraction of the patients recur with chemoresistant disease. Data indicate a favorable therapeutic effect of tumor-infiltrating neutrophils (TIN) in OC. Our aim was to investigate the prognostic role of CD66b expression, corresponding to neutrophilic infiltration for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with OC.

Methods

A collective of 47 primary serous ovarian carcinoma and their matching recurrences were processed and stained with CD66b using immunohistochemistry. Tumors from patients with RFS of more than 6 months were defined as chemosensitive. Statistical analysis of CD66b expression was performed to assess the clinical endpoints.

Results

High density of CD66b expressing neutrophils in primary carcinoma was associated with chemosensitivity (p = 0.014) and longer RFS (p = 0.001). Univariate analysis identified high density of CD66b expressing neutrophils as a predictor for favorable RFS (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.22–0.76, p < 0.005). Residual disease > 2 cm (HR 3.67, 95% CI 1.62–8.31, p < 0.002) and higher number of chemotherapy cycles (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.05–1.55, p < 0.013) were associated with worse RFS. Multivariate analysis showed that high density of CD66b expressing neutrophils (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.10–0.48, p < 0.001) and residual disease > 2 cm (HR 3.69, 95% CI 1.43–9.53, p < 0.007) were independent predictors of RFS but had no impact on OS.

Conclusion

High CD66b neutrophil density in primary high-grade OC predicts good response to initial chemotherapy and longer recurrence-free survival independent of known risk factors.

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Acknowledgements

All authors declare that there are no sources of support or sponsorship in relation to this manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Alberto Posabella and Philipp Köhn equally contributed to this work.

  2. Jasmin Zeindler and Gad Singer share senior authorship.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Center for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases (Clarunis), University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 21, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Alberto Posabella, Philipp Köhn, Alexandros Lalos, Alexander Wilhelm, Robert Mechera, Savas Soysal, Raoul A. Droeser & Jasmin Zeindler

  2. Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 40, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Simone Muenst & Luigi Terracciano

  3. Brustzentrum Zürich, Seefeldstrasse 214, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland

    Uwe Güth

  4. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Basel, Spitalstrasse 21, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Uwe Güth, Sylvia Stadlmann & Gad Singer

  5. Institute of Pathology, Kantonsspital Baden AG, Im Ergel 1, 5404, Baden, Switzerland

    Sylvia Stadlmann & Gad Singer

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  1. Alberto Posabella
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  2. Philipp Köhn
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Correspondence to Raoul A. Droeser.

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Posabella, A., Köhn, P., Lalos, A. et al. High density of CD66b in primary high-grade ovarian cancer independently predicts response to chemotherapy. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 146, 127–136 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-019-03108-6

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