HEAT-SHOCK-PROTEIN-27 - AN INDEPENDENT PROGNOSTIC INDICATOR OF SURVIVAL IN PATIENTS WITH EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CARCINOMA

Objective. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is produced in response to pa thophysiologic stress in animal cells. The purpose of this study was t o determine prospectively whether HSP27 was associated with known prog nostic factors as well as survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Methods. Ninety-nine patients with epithelial ovarian carc inoma were studied. Slides were prepared from fresh tissue. Patient re cords were examined for FIGO stage, grade, histology, level of cytored uction, and survival. Results. Immunohistochemical staining for HSP27 was not related to histologic grade, level of cytoreduction or histolo gic subtype. A statistically significant difference in HSP27 staining was found in relation to FIGO stage (P = 0.013). HSP27 staining was fo und to be an independent predictor of 2-year survival in these patient s (P = 0.041). Conclusion. The level of HSP27 significantly decreases as the FIGO stage increases and is an independent prognostic indicator of survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. (C) 1998 A cademic Press.