肿瘤间质比和肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞对淋巴结转移乳腺癌预后的影响

目的探讨肿瘤间质比(tumor-stroma ratio,TSR)和肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞(tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes,TIL)对淋巴结阳性非特殊型浸润性乳腺癌预后的影响。方法采用HE染色法评估260例乳腺原发癌和相应淋巴结转移癌中TSR和原发癌中的TIL对患者预后的影响。结果乳腺原发癌中TSR≥50%(低间质组)148例,TSR<50%(高间质组)112例,低间质组患者总生存率和无瘤生存率明显高于高间质组(P均<0.05);TIL低表达组(TIL<10%)155例,高表达组(TIL≥10%)105例,两组患者总生存率和无瘤生存率差异无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。淋巴结转移癌中TSR≥50%(低间质组)163例,TSR<50%(高间质组)97例,低间质组患者无瘤生存率明显高于高间质组(P<0.05);原发癌和淋巴结转移癌同为低间质组时,原发癌低间质组提示预后更好(P<0.05)。原发癌与淋巴结转移癌中TSR呈明显的正相关(r=0.726,P<0.01)。原发癌低间质组中TIL的表达对预后影响,差异无统计学意义(P均>0.05);高间质组中TIL高表达组无瘤生存率明显高于TIL低表达组(P=0.012)。患者总生存率和无瘤生存率与年龄、肿块直径、组织学分级和阳性淋巴结个数无关(P均>0.05)。结论TSR是判断淋巴结转移的乳腺癌患者预后重要指标,且在原发癌和转移癌之间呈正相关,但原发癌TSR对判断预后更有意义。联合TSR和TIL分析,可为淋巴结阳性的乳腺癌患者预后和临床治疗提供帮助。     

ALDH1A1在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达及临床意义

目的探讨ALDH1A1在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达及临床意义。方法收集2004年至2008年在中国医科大学附属第一医院乳腺外科病房行根治性手术的158例有完整随访资料的乳腺浸润性导管癌组织石蜡标本,采用免疫组化SP法检测ALDH1A1蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的表达,分析其与临床病理因素及预后的关系。结果 ALDH1A1主要表达于细胞浆。乳腺癌浸润性导管癌组织中ALDH1A1表达阳性率为56.3%。乳腺癌浸润性导管癌组织中ALDH1A1的表达与年龄、绝经状态、肿瘤大小、临床分期、临床分级无关(P0.05),而与淋巴结转移相关(P=0.009)。ALDH1A1阳性表达患者无病生存时间(DFS)和总生存时间(OS)均短于ALDH1A1阳性表达患者,差异具有有统计学意义(P=0.022和P=0.011)。Cox比例风险回归分析显示ALDH1A1是影响乳腺浸润性导管癌患者预后的危险因素(P=0.025和P=0.014),但不是独立危险因素(P=0.892和P=0.489)。结论 ALDH1A1蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌的发生、发展中起一定作用,与淋巴结转移密切相关,可能是影响乳腺浸润性导管癌预后的重要指标。     

乳腺伴大汗腺分化的癌临床病理特征及预后分析

目的：探讨乳腺伴大汗腺分化的癌临床病理特点及影响其预后的因素。方法收集乳腺伴大汗腺分化的癌标本70例和同期诊断为非特殊型浸润性癌283例患者的临床病理资料,比较两组预后差异,并对患者年龄、肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移、组织学分级、分期、免疫组化等因素与预后的关系进行统计学分析。结果乳腺伴大汗腺分化的癌平均发病年龄(56．17±12．41岁)比非特殊型浸润性癌(52.77±11．07岁)高(P=0．039);与非特殊型浸润性癌相比,乳腺伴大汗腺分化的癌具有更低的腋窝淋巴结转移率,较低的ER、PR阳性率(P<0．05);乳腺伴大汗腺分化的癌患者与非特殊型浸润性癌患者相比,5年总生存率(P=0．221)和无病生存率(P=0．378)差异无统计学意义;单因素生存分析显示肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移、病理学分期、淋巴结外软组织浸润与乳腺伴大汗腺分化的癌患者预后有关(P<0．05),Cox多因素分析结果显示,淋巴结转移与乳腺伴大汗腺分化的癌患者不良预后有关(P<0．05)。结论乳腺伴大汗腺分化的癌与浸润性癌临床病理特征不同,但预后无统计学意义。淋巴结转移可作为乳腺伴大汗腺分化的癌患者预后不良的指标,早诊断、早治疗是改善其预后的关键。     

ALKBH5促进乳腺浸润性导管癌细胞上皮间质转化和血管生成并增强其侵袭和转移

目的探讨乳腺浸润性导管癌烷基化修复蛋白B同源物5(ALKBH5)与上皮间质转化(EMT)和血管生成相关蛋白表达的相关性及其与临床病理特征的关系。方法采用实时荧光定量PCR检测原发性乳腺浸润性导管癌组织及对应癌旁组织中ALKBH5、上皮钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)、基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP9)、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的mRNA表达,免疫组织化学染色法检测ALKBH5、 E-cadherin、 MMP9、 VEGF蛋白表达,用χ2检验分析其与临床病理特征的关系,并采用Spearman相关分析法分析蛋白表达的相关性。采用Kaplan-Meier法评估ALKBH5、 E-cadherin、 MMP9、 VEGF蛋白的异常表达与乳腺浸润性导管癌患者无病生存期之间的关系,Cox回归模型分析ALKBH5、 E-cadherin、 MMP9、 VEGF蛋白的表达和临床病理参数与乳腺浸润性导管癌患者预后的关系。结果与癌旁组织相比,ALKBH5、 MMP9和VEGF的mRNA和蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌组织高表达,E-cadherin表达降低。ALKBH5、 MMP9和VEGF蛋白在低分化乳腺癌组织、淋巴结有转移、 TNM分期Ⅲ+Ⅳ期的表达率较高;肿瘤直径越大,ALKBH5和VEGF表达率越高。E-cadherin在高分化乳腺癌组织、淋巴结无转移、 TNM分期Ⅰ+Ⅱ期表达率较高。Spearman相关分析结果显示,乳腺浸润性导管癌中ALKBH5与E-cadherin表达呈负相关,ALKBH5与MMP9和VEGF表达均呈正相关。ALKBH5、 MMP9和VEGF蛋白高表达者的无病生存率均分别低于低表达者,E-cadherin蛋白高表达者无病生存率高于低表达者。Cox回归模型分析显示,ALKBH5和淋巴结转移是乳腺浸润性导管癌预后的独立危险因素。结论 ALKBH5促进乳腺浸润性导管癌侵袭和转移可能与增强乳腺导管癌细胞的EMT和血管生成有关。     

埃兹蛋白在乳腺癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的 通过检测埃兹蛋白在浸润性乳腺癌、乳腺导管内癌及正常乳腺组织中的表达,探究埃兹蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的表达的临床意义。方法 随机选取南昌大学第一附属医院40例浸润性乳腺癌患者及32例乳腺导管内癌患者,另外选择同期来我院健康体检者22例。通过免疫组化链霉亲和素-过氧化物酶法（S-P）法分别检测埃兹蛋白在22例正常乳腺组织、32例乳腺导管内癌组织和40例浸润性乳腺癌组织中的表达,参照病理结果进行分析。结果 埃兹蛋白在40例浸润性乳腺癌的阳性表达率为72.50%、在32例乳腺导管内癌的阳性表达率为40.63%、在正常乳腺组织中的阳性表达率13.64%,浸润性乳腺癌中埃兹蛋白的表达高于其他两种组织,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;埃兹蛋白在G3期乳腺癌组织中的表达高于在G1~G2期乳腺癌组织中的表达,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;埃兹蛋白在淋巴结转移患者中的阳性表达率高于在无淋巴结转移的患者中的阳性表达率,差异统计学意义显著（P＜0.01）;埃兹蛋白在＜40岁的患者中的阳性表达率低于在年龄≥40岁的患者中的表达率,差异统计学意义显著（P＜0.01）;埃兹蛋白在PR阳性患者中的阳性表达率低于在PR阴性患者中的表达率,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;乳腺癌患者中埃兹蛋白的表达与组织学分级、腋窝淋巴结转移及年龄呈正相关（P＜0.05）,与PR呈负相关（P＜0.05）;埃兹蛋白在浸润性润腺癌中的表达与乳腺癌临床分期、脉管侵犯、肿瘤大小、患者月经状态以及Her-2、ER、Ki-67的表达无相关性（P＞0.05）。结论 埃兹蛋白在乳腺癌和正常乳腺组织中的表达不同,对判断乳腺肿瘤性质具有重要参考意义;此外,埃兹蛋白能够帮助判断乳腺癌的转移潜能和预后,可能启发乳腺癌新的靶向治疗。     

B7H4在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达及其预后意义

为探讨B7H4蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中的表达特点及其与临床病理因素和预后的关系,应用免疫组织化学EnVision法检测B7H4蛋白在123例患者癌组织和30例正常乳腺组织中的表达,分析其阳性表达与乳腺浸润性导管癌患者临床病理学特征及患者生存率的关系。结果显示,B7H4蛋白在癌组织中的阳性表达率为38.2%(47/123),显著高于正常乳腺导管上皮细胞(P <0.01);B7H4蛋白表达与乳腺浸润性导管癌临床分期、HER2表达和淋巴结转移有关(P <0.05,P <0.05,P <0.001);Kaplan-Meier生存分析法显示,B7H4阳性表达的乳腺浸润性导管癌患者生存期明显低于阴性表达患者。由此,B7H4可能与乳腺癌的进展密切相关,其阳性表达可作为乳腺浸润性导管癌的潜在预后生物标志物。     

乳腺癌中INHBA表达及与临床预后的关系

目的检测INHBA(inhibin-βA)在乳腺癌及癌旁乳腺组织中的表达,探讨其与乳腺癌临床病理特征的关系及对乳腺癌患者预后的意义。方法应用免疫组化法检测85例乳腺浸润性导管癌及35例癌旁乳腺组织中INHBA的表达。结果INHBA在乳腺癌和癌旁组织中的表达差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。INHBA高表达和肿瘤较低的分化程度、淋巴结转移及较高的Ki-67增殖指数具有相关性(P0.05)。INHBA高表达乳腺癌患者的生存期明显短于低表达组(P0.05)。多因素Cox比例风险回归模型分析显示,INHBA表达可以作为判断乳腺癌患者的独立危险因素(P0.05)。结论INHBA表达与肿瘤分化程度、淋巴结转移及Ki-67增殖指数密切相关,可能参与乳腺癌的发生发展,可以作为乳腺癌患者预后的判断指标。     

乳腺癌中E-cadherin的表达及其临床病理意义

目的 探讨上皮钙黏附表（E-cadherin，E-cad）与乳腺癌临床病理和生物学行为的关系。方法 用免疫组化S-P法检测乳腺浸润性导管癌和浸润性小叶癌中E-cad的表达情况及其与淋巴结转移，ER-PR表达水平的相关性。结果 乳腺浸润性导管癌E-cad表达高于浸润性小叶瘤，有淋巴结转移者E-cad表达低于无转移者，E-cad高表达的乳腺浸润性导管癌及浸润性小肾癌中均与ER-PR表达水平成正相关。结论 E-cad中作为乳腺癌分类、转移潜能和预后判断的参考指标。     

上皮钙黏蛋白、波形蛋白和Snail蛋白表型在乳腺浸润性导管癌中表达的相关性及其与预后的关系

目的 检测上皮钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)、波形蛋白(Vimentin)和Snail蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达情况与乳腺癌病理特征的关系及其与浸润性导管癌预后的关系.方法 采用Envision免疫组织化学方法对89例乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中的上E-cadhenn,Vimentin和Snail蛋白表达情况进行检测并分析表达程度与临床病理特征之间的关系;统计分析采用卡方检验、Fisher精确概率法检验Spearman等级相关检验、配对计数资料检验、Kaplan-Meier法进行单因素生存分析,Cox比例风险模型进行生存的多因素分析.结果 E-cadherin、Vimentin和Snail蛋白在浸润性导管癌组织中的阳性表达率分别为、47.1％、53.9％和55.0％,三者呈负相关,(P=0.003);E-cadherin、Vimentin和Snail蛋白的表达与临床TNM分期有关(P ＜0.005).浸润性导管癌中Snail蛋白、Vimentin表达明显增高,Snail蛋白与淋巴结转移有关(P =0.029);Vimentin与淋巴结转移、雌激素状态有关(P =0.006,P＜0.001);E-cadherin表达明显降低,与孕激素状态有关(P =0.030);分子分型结果显示,管腔A型、HER-2阳性型组的Vimentin、Snail蛋白阳性表达率低于基地细胞样型组(P =0.012),而E-cadherin表达率则高于基地细胞样型组(P =0.004).Cox分析发现,E-cadherin低表达和Vimentin的过度表达与患者总生存期(P =0.019、P=0.045)及患者无病生存期(P =0.032、P=0.024)显著相关,但Snail蛋白的表达与总生存期及无病生存期无相关性(P =0.879、P=0.835).结论 E-cadhern、Vimentin和Snail蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌的发生、发展、侵袭及转移中起重要作用,对认识乳腺癌的生物学特性以及对指导乳腺癌的诊疗及预后具有重要意义.     

乳腺癌中RRIG1 mRNA的表达及意义

目的探讨维甲酸受体诱导基因1(retinoic receptor-induced gene 1,RRIG1)在人乳腺癌组织中的表达及其与患者临床病理参数的关系。方法以GAPDH为内对照采用实时荧光定量逆转录聚合酶链反应法(real time quantitative reverse transcrip-tion polymerase chain reaction,RQ RT-PCR)检测76例新鲜乳腺浸润性导管癌组织5、例导管原位癌组织和20例乳腺良性增生组织中RRIG1 mRNA的表达水平,并分析其与患者临床病理参数的关系。结果乳腺导管原位癌、浸润性导管癌组织中RRIG1 mRNA相对表达水平(3.5±2.1、6.7±4.1)明显低于良性增生组织(10.2±6.5),差异具有统计学意义(P=0.004,P=0.036);乳腺浸润性导管癌中淋巴结转移组RRIG1 mRNA相对表达水平(5.2±3.1)明显低于无淋巴结转移组(7.48±4.5),两组之间差异具有统计学意义(P=0.023)。结论 RRIG1可能作为一种新的抑癌基因参与乳腺癌的发生、浸润和转移,对乳腺癌早期诊断和预后评估具有重要的参考价值。     

Risk Factors Associated with Amputation-Free Survival in Patient with Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Purpose

To determine the 1-year survival rate, 1-year amputation-free survival rate and the risk factors of amputation for patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

Materials and Methods

One hundred seventy-three patients with diabetic foot ulcers were included in our study. Mean patient age was 67.5 (range, 29 to 87, SD ±11.4) years. 74% of the patients were male. Time from study entry to amputation and time to death were evaluated separately as censored event times by Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was carried out for determining the risk factors of amputation.

Results

The survival rate and amputation-free survival rate were 96.5% (n=167), 65.9% (n=114), respectively, over one year study period. Severity of ulcer was the strongest significant risk factor of amputation [hazard ratio (HR): 7.99; confidence interval (CI): 3.12 to 20.47]. Peripheral artery disease was also independent risk factor of amputation (HR: 2.64; CI: 1.52 to 4.59).

Conclusion

In assessing the prognosis of diabetic foot ulcers, clinicians should consider the severity of ulcer and presence of peripheral artery disease. Our study provides important insights into clinical practice and supplementary information for both physicians and patients.     

Fascin在骨肉瘤中的表达及意义

目的探讨fascin蛋白在骨肉瘤中的表达变化与临床病理指标及生存时间的关系。方法应用免疫组织化学方法和Western blot方法检测45例手术切除骨肉瘤标本fascin蛋白的表达,将所得fascin蛋白表达的光密度值数据与临床病理指标及生存时间进行统计学分析。结果肿瘤边缘的非瘤骨组织中无fascin蛋白表达,45例骨肉瘤标本中有24例fascin蛋白为中高表达,这种阳性表达与外科分期、化疗反应性呈正相关(P<0.05)。在单因素及多因素分析中,蛋白fascin的高表达的骨肉瘤患者总生存期及无病生存期明显降低(P<0.05)。结论fascin基因可能是骨肉瘤的一个潜在治疗靶点。     

Relationship between Tertiary Lymphoid Structure and the Prognosis and Clinicopathologic Characteristics in Solid Tumors

Background: An increasing number of studies had shown that tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) plays an important role in tumor progression. However, the prognostic role of TLS in various tumors remains controversial. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic values of TLS in solid tumors.Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library undated to November 2, 2020. Odds ratios of clinical parameters, hazard ratio (HR) of overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), disease-free survival (DFS) and relapse rate were calculated in order to evaluate the relationship between TLS expression and clinicopathological or prognostic values in different tumors.Result: 27 eligible studies including 6647 patients with different types of tumors were analyzed. High TLS expression was associated with a longer OS (HR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.50 - 0.86, P = 0.002) and RFS (HR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.47 - 0.79, P = 0.0001). Moreover, high TLS levels in tumor were associated with a low risk of recurrence (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.32 - 0.57, P < 0.0001). However, there was no relationship between TLS expression and DFS. Meanwhile, high TLS expression was associated with smaller tumor size (P < 0.00001) and higher tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Furthermore, the subgroup analysis showed high TLS expression that may be associated with a lower clinical grading and N stage in breast cancer and colorectal cancer.Conclusion: High TLS expression is associated with the longer OS and RFS in solid tumors, and a lower risk of cancer relapse. Meanwhile, high TLS expression is also associated with a smaller tumor size, higher infiltration of TILs, lower clinical grading and N stage in the tumor. Therefore, high TLS expression in the tumor is a favorable prognostic biomarker for solid tumor patients.     

Clinical Presentation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in African Americans vs. Caucasians: A Retrospective Analysis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains an important form of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and worldwide. Previous U.S.-based studies on survival suggest ethnic disparities in HCC patients, but the complex interplay of multiple factors that contribute are still incompletely understood. Here we considered the influences of risk factors contributing towards HCC survival, including ethnic background, over ten years at a premier academic medical center with a majority (57.20%) African American (AA) population. Retrospective HCC data were collected from 2008–2018 at LSUHSC-Shreveport, an urban tertiary medical center. Data included demographics, comorbidities, liver disease characteristics, and tumor parameters. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi Square and one-way ANOVA. Results: 229 HCC patients were identified (male 78.6%). The mean HCC age at diagnosis was 61 years (SD = 7.3). Compared to non-Hispanic Caucasians (42.7%), AA patients (57.2% of total) were older at presentation, had more frequent diabetes/dyslipidemia/NAFLD (45 (34.3%) compared with 19 (19.3%) in non-Hispanic Caucasians, p = 0.02), and had a larger HCC burden at diagnosis. We conclude that compared to white patients, despite having similar BMI and MELD scores and rates of portal vein thrombosis, AA patients with HCC in our cohort were older at presentation, had a significantly increased incidence of modifiable metabolic risk factors including diabetes, higher AFP values, increased incidence of gallstones, and larger sized HCCs, and were more likely to be outside Milan criteria. These findings have important prognostic and diagnostic implications for developing a more targeted HCC surveillance program.     

Analysis of prognostic factors and treatment modality changes in breast cancer: a single institution study in Korea

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of new breast cancer treatments and to provide a baseline for monitoring the development of breast cancer in Korean women, we conducted an analysis at our institution to determine long-term clinicopathological features, survival rates, and prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed 2,403 patients between Sep 1994 and Dec 2002, who underwent breast cancer surgery at Samsung Medical Center in Korea. Demographic data, pathologic records and surgical records were collected. RESULTS: After a median follow-up duration of 121.9 (range: 2-158.1) months, the 5-year disease free survival (DFS) was 82.8% and the 10-year DFS was 74.7%. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates were 89.4% and 82.9%, respectively. Using multivariate analyses, we determined that the nodal status (p < 0.001), angioinvasion (p < 0.001), positive PR (p < 0.001), and C-erb-B2 (p < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for OS. The frequency of breast conserving surgery was 33.9% before Dec 1999, and increased up to 44.1% by year Dec 2002. CONCLUSION: Most of the prognostic variables and clinical characteristics of the Korean breast cancer patients were similar to those reported for Western populations. However, the age distribution in Korean patients seemed to be different from that in patients from Western countries.     

MRPL27 contributes to unfavorable overall survival and disease-free survival from cholangiocarcinoma patients

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the roles of MRPL27 in survival from cholangiocarcinoma patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.Methods: In TCGA-CHOL profile, MRPL27 gene expression and clinical data were obtained. Cox regression models were used to evaluate the potential links between MRPL27 and cholangiocarcinoma survival. Enrichment analysis of MRPL27 was conducted in Metascape and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) databases.Results: 36 cholangiocarcinoma patients were included in this analysis. MRPL27 mRNA was significantly upregulated in tumor tissues in cholangiocarcinoma patients including intrahepatic, distal and hilar/perihilar cholangiocarcinoma cases (all p < 0.01). Cholangiocarcinoma patients with high MRPL27 had worse overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) compared to those with low MRPL27 (all p < 0.05). Univariate and multivariate Cox models indicated that MRPL27 should be a risk factor for the OS and DFS in cholangiocarcinoma patients (both p < 0.01). Bioinformatic analysis revealed that MRPL27 mainly involved in the processes of mitochondrial translation elongation, respiratory electron transport, ATP synthesis, and inner mitochondrial membrane organization. No mutations of MRPL27 were screened in cholangiocarcinoma patients.Conclusion: Upregulated in tumors, MRPL27 contributes to unfavorable survival in cholangiocarcinoma patients.     

Stomatin-like protein 2 expression is associated with clinical survival in patients with cervical cancer

Aims: To investigate the prognostic role of stomatin-like protein 2 (STOML2) in cervical cancer. Methods: The expression of STOML2 in 8 pairs of cervical cancer and adjacent normal cervical tissues were detected by Real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluation of STOML2 expression in 94 paraffin-embedded cervical cancer samples. The correlation between STOML2 expression and cervical cancer progression and prognosis was analyzed statistically. Results: STOML2 expression was upregulated in cervical cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal cervical tissues. Of the 94 cervical cancer cases, high STOML2 expression was detected in 54 cases (57.4%). STOML2 expression was significantly related to tumor stage (P = 0.013) and tumor size (P = 0.025). Moreover, patients with high expression of STOML2 had a significant shorter overall survival and recurrent free survival time compared with those with low STOML2 expression in cervical cancer (P = 0.001 and P = 0.017, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that STOML2 was an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.022) for the overall survival in cervical cancer. Conclusion: Our study showed STOML2 was correlated to progression in cervical cancer, and implicated it as a potential predictive factor for the prognosis of cervical cancer.     

Increased expression of microRNA-196a predicts poor prognosis in human ovarian carcinoma

Objective: Overexpression of MicroRNA-196a (miR-196a) has recently been reported in different types of human cancers. However, the prognostic value of miR-196a in ovarian carcinoma remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression of miR-196a in ovarian carcinoma and its relationship with tumor progression and clinical prognosis. Methods: The expression level of miR-196a was examined by quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in surgically removed ovarian cancer tissues and ovarian cancer cell lines. The correlation between miR-196a expression and clinical features and prognosis were statistically analyzed. Results: The results showed that the miR-196a expression was significantly upregulated in tumor tissues and ovarian cancer cell lines compared with that in normal ovarian surface tissues and normal ovarian epithelial cells. Moreover, miR-196a expression was positively correlated with FIGO stage (P <0.001), tumor size (P =0.020), and lymph nodes metastasis (P =0.019). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that high levels of miR-196a expression was associated with poorer overall survival (P <0.001) and recurrent-free survival (P =0.003), especially in patients with advanced disease (P =0.002). Multivariate analysis suggested that miR-196a expression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival of patients with ovarian carcinoma. Conclusions: In conclusion, miR-196a may play an important role in the progression of ovarian carcinoma, and could be used as an independent prognostic biomarker for patients with ovarian carcinoma.