Open AccessNuclear receptor DAX‐1 in human common epithelial ovarian carcinoma: An independent prognostic factor of clinical outcome
Author(s) -
AbdElaziz Manar,
Akahira Junichi,
Moriya Takuya,
Suzuki Takashi,
Yaegashi Nobuo,
Sasano Hironobu
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2003.tb01388.x
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , stage (stratigraphy) , univariate analysis , ovarian carcinoma , carcinoma , medicine , ki 67 , ovarian cancer , oncology , epithelial ovarian carcinoma , cancer , clinical significance , pathology , biology , multivariate analysis , paleontology
DAX‐1 is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily and is thought to be involved in the regulation of steroidogenesis. Its expression has been detected primarily in endocrine neoplasms such as adrenocortical as well as pituitary tumors in human, but its biological roles have not been examined well in sex steroid‐dependent neoplasms. The aim of this study is to detect the expression of DAX‐1 in common epithelial ovarian carcinomas in order to evaluate its possible biological significance. DAX‐1 immunoreactivity was examined using immunohistochemistry. The correlation between the status of DAX‐1 immunoreactivity and clinicopathological parameters and disease‐free survival of the patients in a series of 60 cases of common epithelial ovarian carcinoma was examined. The status of DAX‐1 immunoreactivity was evaluated using H score. DAX‐1 immunoreactivity was widely detected in the nuclei of common epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells. There was a significant positive correlation between DAX‐1 immunoreactivity and clinical staging ( P =0.0241), tumor grade ( P =0.0115), the residual size of the tumor ( P =0.0014) and Ki‐67 labeling index ( P =<0.0001). In univariate survival analysis, a significant association was detected between DAX‐1 immunoreactivity and shortened patient survival ( P =0.0157). Other significant prognostic parameters were clinical stage, residual size of tumor and Ki‐67. In multivariate analysis, DAX‐1 immunoreactivity, clinical stage, residual size of tumor and Ki‐67 all turned out to be independent prognostic factors for shortened survival. In conclusion, DAX‐1 immunoreactivity is considered to be a new independent marker of poor prognosis or adverse clinical outcome in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma, possibly through altering in situ steroids production.