Carbonyl reductase as a significant predictor of survival and lymph node metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer

We have recently reported a novel function for carbonyl reductase (CR), nam ely, its ability to modulate the metastatic potential of malignant mouse ce lls. Because there are currently no data addressing a similar function for CR in human cancers, the aim Of this study was to assess a correlation betw een survival and metastasis, and CR level in epithelial ovarian cancer. Usi ng anti-CR antibody, immunohistochemical staining was performed on 73 epith elial ovarian cancers, 13 borderline malignant tumours, and 25 benign ovari an tumours for a total of 111 specimens. The combined rate for strongly and weakly positive reactions for CR was 32.0% for benign tumours, 38.5% for b orderline malignant tumours, and 61.6% for ovarian cancers. The CR-positive rate was 35.7% (weakly positive alone) for ovarian cancers with retroperit oneal lymph node (RLN) metastasis and 67.8% for those without RLN metastasi s (P < 0.05). The 5-year survival rate was 62.7% for the patients with CR-n egative cancer and 86.1% for those with CR-positive cancer (P < 0.05). The present results indicate that odecreased CR expression in epithelial ovaria n cancer is associated with RLN metastasis and poor survival. (C) 2001 Canc er Research Campaign http://www.bicancer.com.