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Document type:
Journal Article
Author(s):
Blechschmidt, K; Sassen, S; Schmalfeldt, B; Schuster, T; Höfler, H; Becker, KF
Title:
The E-cadherin repressor Snail is associated with lower overall survival of ovarian cancer patients.
Abstract:
Epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among female genital malignancies. Reduced expression of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin was previously shown to be associated with adverse prognostic features. The role of the E-cadherin repressor Snail in ovarian cancer progression remains to be elucidated. We analysed formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens of 48 primary ovarian tumours and corresponding metastases for expression of E-cadherin and Snail by immunohistochemistry. We found a significant correlation between E-cadherin expression in primary cancers and their corresponding metastases (P<0.001). This correlation was found for Snail expression as well (P<0.001). There was a significant (P=0.008) association of reduced E-cadherin expression in primary ovarian cancer with shorter overall survival. Similarly, Snail expression in corresponding metastases (P=0.047) was associated with reduced overall survival of the patients. Additionally, the group of patients showing reduced E-cadherin and increased Snail immunoreactivity in primary tumours and corresponding metastases, respectively, had a significantly higher risk of death (P=0.002 and 0.022, respectively) when compared to the patient group with the reference expression profile E-cadherin positive and Snail negative. Taken together, the results of our study show that the E-cadherin repressor Snail is associated with lower overall survival of ovarian cancer patients.
Journal title abbreviation:
Br J Cancer
Year:
2008
Journal volume:
98
Journal issue:
2
Pages contribution:
489-95
Language:
eng
Fulltext / DOI:
doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6604115
Pubmed ID:
http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18026186
Print-ISSN:
0007-0920
TUM Institution:
Frauenklinik und Poliklinik; Institut für Allgemeine Pathologie und Pathologische Anatomie; Institut für Medizinische Statistik und Epidemiologie
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