P. Athanassiadou et al., EXPRESSION OF CATHEPSIN-D, CA125 AND EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTORIN IMPRINT SMEARS OF OVARIAN-CARCINOMA, Gynecologic and obstetric investigation, 43(2), 1997, pp. 125-130
One hundred primary ovarian cancers were studied for the expression of
cathepsin-D, CA125 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) by st
aining of imprint smears from freshly obtained surgical specimens. Est
rogen and progesterone receptors of the primary tumor, lymph node inva
sion, menopausal status of the patients and primary tumor size were al
so noted. The polymorphism of the antigenic characteristics of ovarian
carcinomas was noted and significant associations of EGF-R positivity
and lymph node negativity, EGF-R positivity and serous carcinomas, EG
F-R positivity and cathepsin-D positivity, cathepsin-D positivity and
CA125 positivity, and CA125 positivity and serous carcinomas were obse
rved. The high incidence of cathepsin-D positivity makes it a possible
complementary method to CA125 for following up patients. It is sugges
ted that complete antigenic profiles of individual tumors are more lik
ely to provide accurate prognostic information in individual cases.