Expression and amplification of eIF-5A2 in human epithelial ovarian tumors and overexpression of EIF-5A2 is a new independent predictor of outcome in patients with ovarian carcinoma

Gynecol Oncol. 2009 Feb;112(2):314-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2008.10.024. Epub 2008 Dec 2.

Abstract

Objectives: Our previous study has suggested an oncogenic role of eIF-5A2 in ovarian tumorigenesis. Abnormalities of eIF-5A2 and its clinical/prognostic significance, however, in ovarian carcinoma are unclear.

Methods: In this study, we examined expression of EIF-5A2, using immunohistochemistry, in 30 normal ovaries, 30 ovarian cystadenomas, 30 borderline ovarian tumors and 110 ovarian carcinomas. The amplification status of eIF-5A2 in each ovarian carcinoma was assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Results: Overexpression of EIF-5A2 was detected in none of the normal ovaries, 7% cystadenomas, 30% borderline tumors, and 53% invasive ovarian carcinomas, respectively. Amplification of eIF-5A2 was detected in 16% of informative ovarian carcinomas. In ovarian carcinomas, significant positive associations were found between overexpression of EIF-5A2 and the tumors ascending grade, later pT/pN and FIGO stages, as well as increased positive rate of Ki-67 (p<0.05). In univariate survival analysis of the ovarian carcinoma cohorts, a significant association of overexpression of EIF-5A2 with shortened patient survival (mean 39.0 months vs 69.5 months, p<0.001) was demonstrated. Importantly, EIF-5A2 expression provided significant independent prognostic parameters in multivariate analysis (p=0.043).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that increased expression of EIF-5A2 in ovarian carcinoma may represent an acquired malignant phenotypic feature of tumor cells, and the overexpression of EIF-5A2, as detected by immunohistochemistry, is an independent molecular marker for shortened survival time of patients with ovarian carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / biosynthesis*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Cystadenoma / genetics
  • Cystadenoma / metabolism
  • Cystadenoma / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Amplification
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Ki-67 Antigen / biosynthesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Paraffin Embedding
  • Peptide Initiation Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Peptide Initiation Factors / genetics
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Peptide Initiation Factors
  • eIF-5A2