卵巢癌中Tiam1蛋白过表达的临床病理学意义

目的探讨卵巢癌中Tiam1过表达的临床病理学意义。方法采用免疫组化SP两步法检测Tiam1蛋白在98例浆液性卵巢癌组织、64例黏液性囊腺癌组织以及27例良性病变组织中的表达,并分析其过表达与卵巢癌临床病理特征的关系。应用Kaplan-Meier进行生存分析。结果 Tiam1蛋白主要表达于卵巢癌细胞胞质和胞核中。在浆液性卵巢癌组织中,Tiam1蛋白的阳性率和强阳性率分别为84.7%(83/98)和70.4%(69/98);在黏液性囊腺癌组织中,Tiam1蛋白的阳性率和强阳性率分别为87.5%(56/64)和73.4%(47/64),显著高于良性卵巢肿瘤组织(22.2%和7.4%)(P均0.01)。Tiam1蛋白表达水平与卵巢癌组织学分级、FIGO分期和转移情况密切相关(P均0.05);与患者年龄及绝经情况无关(P均0.05)。Kaplan-Meier生存分析显示,Tiam1蛋白高表达的卵巢癌患者总生存期和无瘤生存期均明显低于Tiam1蛋白低表达患者(P均0.05),且Tiam1蛋白高表达的转移性卵巢癌患者总生存期也明显低于Tiam1蛋白低表达患者(P0.05)。结论 Tiam1蛋白在卵巢癌组织中明显高表达,其表达水平与卵巢癌患者的预后密切相关。     

Numb蛋白在卵巢浆液性肿瘤中的表达及临床意义

目的检测Numb蛋白在卵巢浆液性肿瘤组织中的表达及其临床意义。方法用免疫组织化方法检测Numb蛋白在卵巢浆液性囊腺癌、交界性浆液性囊腺瘤、浆液性囊腺瘤及正常卵巢组织中的表达情况,并与患者的临床病理资料进行分析。结果Numb蛋白在卵巢浆液性囊腺癌中表达阳性率明显低于卵巢正常组织和卵巢浆液性囊腺瘤及交界性浆液性囊腺瘤的阳性率(P0.01),但与肿瘤分化程度、临床病理分期、淋巴结转移及年龄均无明显相关性(P0.05)。结论Numb蛋白在卵巢浆液性囊腺癌中低表达,可能参与浆液性囊腺癌的发生过程。     

卵巢黏液性交界性肿瘤中K-ras基因突变及p21 ras蛋白的表达

目的：观察卵巢黏液性交界性肿瘤中K-ras基因突变及p21 ras蛋白的表达,探讨卵巢黏液性交界性肿瘤的发病机制及靶基因治疗的可能。方法采用PCR-RFLP法和免疫组化EliVision法分别检测40例卵巢黏液性交界性囊腺瘤、40例卵巢黏液性囊腺癌和20例卵巢黏液性囊腺瘤中K-ras基因突变和p21 ras蛋白的表达。结果 K-ras基因在卵巢黏液性囊腺瘤、黏液性交界性囊腺瘤和黏液性囊腺癌中的突变率分别为0、37.5%、7.5%,交界组突变率明显高于其他两组,差异有统计学意义( P<0.01)。 K-ras基因突变在卵巢黏液性交界性肿瘤年龄分组中突变,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。 p21ras蛋白在卵巢黏液性囊腺瘤、黏液性交界性囊腺瘤和黏液性囊腺癌中阳性率分别为5%、45%、10%,交界组阳性率明显高于其他两组,差异有统计学意义(P <0.01)。结论 K-ras基因突变及p21ras蛋白表达可能是卵巢黏液性交界性肿瘤形成的原因之一,有利于卵巢黏液性交界性肿瘤的判断,还可为临床作为靶向治疗药物分析提供病理学基础。     

卵巢浆液性肿瘤中IQGAP1与E-cadherin表达的检测

目的探讨上皮性钙黏素(E-cadherin)与具有IQ结构域的人Ras GTP激活蛋白相关蛋白1(IQGAP1)在卵巢浆液性肿瘤中的表达及其临床意义。方法分别用免疫组织化学SP法和Western blot法检测20例卵巢浆液性囊腺癌、10例卵巢交界性浆液性囊腺瘤、10例卵巢浆液性囊腺瘤以及10例正常卵巢组织中E-cadherin和IQGAP1的蛋白表达。结果 E-cadherin蛋白在浆液性囊腺瘤中表达最高,明显高于正常卵巢组织和浆液性囊腺癌组织(P0.05),其均值高于交界性囊腺癌,无统计学意义。IQGAP1在卵巢浆液性囊腺癌中表达较正常卵巢组织、良性及交界性肿瘤组织均增高(P0.05);免疫组织化学染色证实IQGAP1在浆液性囊腺癌中以胞膜表达为主,而在良性肿瘤中以胞质表达为主。结论 E-cadherin和IQGAP1在卵巢浆液性瘤高表达,可联合用于卵巢浆液性肿瘤的免疫组化诊断。     

三阴型乳腺癌中NQO1蛋白过表达的临床病理意义

目的探讨醌氧化还原酶[NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1,NQO1]在三阴型乳腺癌(triple-negative breast cancer,TNBC)中过表达的临床病理意义。方法应用免疫荧光染色法观察NQO1蛋白在MDA-MB-468细胞中的表达定位,并应用免疫组化SP两步法检测NQO1蛋白在87例TNBC组织、45例导管内原位癌(ductal carcinoma in situ,DCIS)组织以及36例癌旁非瘤乳腺上皮组织中的表达,同时分析其过表达与TNBC临床病理特征间的关系。结果 NQO1蛋白主要表达于TNBC细胞胞质中。在TNBC组织中,NQO1蛋白的阳性率和强阳性率分别为75.9%(66/87)和62.1%(54/87),显著高于DCIS组织和癌旁非瘤乳腺上皮组织(P均0.01)。NQO1蛋白表达水平与TNBC患者的临床分期和淋巴结转移情况密切相关(P均0.05),但与患者年龄、绝经情况、肿瘤大小及组织分化程度无关(P均0.05)。结论 NQO1蛋白在TNBC组织中明显高表达,其表达水平与TNBC患者预后密切相关,有望成为TNBC治疗的新分子靶标。     

神经胶质瘤中NQO1高表达在预后评估中的意义

目的探讨NQO1高表达在神经胶质瘤早期诊断及预后评估中的临床价值。方法应用免疫组化EnVision法检测NQO1蛋白在122例神经胶质瘤组织、17例癌旁正常组织中的表达,分析NQO1蛋白高表达与神经胶质瘤临床病理特征的关系;采用TCGA数据库分析NQO1 mRNA表达与神经胶质瘤患者生存期的关系。结果NQO1蛋白在神经胶质瘤中的阳性率和强阳性率分别为88.5%(108/122)和52.5%(64/122),均显著高于癌旁正常组织(P<0.01);NQO1蛋白高表达与神经胶质瘤患者的临床分期密切相关(P<0.05),与患者性别、年龄、肿瘤大小、肿瘤部位及浸润情况无关(P>0.05);TCGA生存分析结果提示,NQO1高表达与神经胶质瘤患者的总生存期无关,但NQO1高表达者的无瘤生存期明显低于NQO1低表达者(P<0.05)。结论NQO1可能参与神经胶质瘤的发生、发展,且其高表达有望成为神经胶质瘤早期诊断及预后评估的重要指标。     

卵巢黏液性肿瘤中EGFR表达和K-RAS基因的突变

目的 研究卵巢黏液性肿瘤中表皮生长因子受体(epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR)蛋白的表达及K-RAS基因的突变,探讨卵巢黏液性肿瘤的发病机制及靶基因治疗的可行性.方法 应用免疫组化PV 9000两步法和PCR-RFLP法分别检测20例卵巢黏液性囊腺瘤、40例卵巢黏液性交界性囊腺瘤和40例卵巢黏液性囊腺癌中EGFR蛋白的表达和K-RAS基因的突变情况.结果 EGFR在卵巢黏液性囊腺瘤、黏液性交界性囊腺瘤和囊腺癌中的阳性表达率分别为0、37.5%、67.5%(P<0.01).K-RAS在卵巢黏液性囊腺瘤、黏液性交界性囊腺瘤和囊腺癌中的突变率分别为0、37.5%、7.5%,交界组突变率明显高于其他2组,但卵巢囊腺瘤与囊腺癌比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).EGFR与卵巢黏液性囊腺癌的临床分期、病理分级、患者年龄无关(P<0.05),与肿瘤的大小相关(P<0.05).EGFR与卵巢黏液性交界性肿瘤临床病理分期、肿瘤大小、患者年龄无关(P>0.05).K-RAS基因突变与卵巢黏液性交界性肿瘤临床病理分期、肿瘤大小无关(P>0.05),与患者年龄相关(P<0.05).EGFR的表达和K-RAS基因的突变在卵巢黏液性交界性肿瘤中无相关性(P>0.05).结论 EGFR对卵巢黏液性交界性囊腺瘤和卵巢黏液性囊腺癌的形成起到了一定的作用,而K-RAS基因则可能是卵巢黏液性交界性囊腺瘤形成的一个重要因素.     

卵巢浆液性腺癌中SP1、KLF4和p21表达及其预后意义

目的探讨不同级别卵巢浆液性腺癌中SP1、KLF4和p21蛋白表达的差异和预后意义。方法应用免疫组化EliVision法检测卵巢低级别和高级别浆液性腺癌中SP1、KLF4和p21蛋白的表达,Kaplan-Meier单因素和Cox多因素生存分析其与患者预后的关系。结果 SP1、KLF4和p21蛋白在高级别浆液性腺癌中的阳性率分别为74.5%、17.0%和11.7%,低级别浆液性腺癌中的阳性率分别为65.2%、34.8%和26.1%,与对照组相比,SP1表达均明显升高(P0.05),而KLF4和p21表达均明显降低(P0.05)。三者在高、低级别液性腺癌中的表达差异无显著性(P0.05)。SP1、KLF4和p21蛋白表达与高级别液性腺癌FIGO分期密切相关,且SP1还与术后有无残留灶密切相关(P0.05)。卵巢高级别液性腺癌中SP1表达与KLF4、p21的表达均呈显著负相关(P0.05)。高级别液性腺癌中SP1蛋白阳性者的5年生存率明显低于阴性者,而KLF4和p21蛋白阳性者的5年生存率明显高于阴性者(P0.05)。Cox多因素分析显示,FIGO分期和SP1高表达是影响高级别浆液性腺癌预后的独立因素。结论 SP1蛋白过表达以及KLF4和p21蛋白低表达,参与了高、低级别浆液性腺癌的发生,三者表达与高级别浆液性腺癌的预后有关,且SP1是独立预后因素。     

肝细胞癌中NQO1表达的预后评估意义

目的 探讨NQO1过表达在肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC)预后评估中的作用。方法 应用qRT-PCR检测14例HCC新鲜组织和肝良性组织中NQO1 mRNA表达；选择具有完整随访资料的156例HCC石蜡组织，采用免疫组化SP法检测NQO1蛋白表达，评估NQO1蛋白表达与HCC临床病理特征的关系；采用Kaplan-Meier方法计算患者生存率，Cox比例风险回归模型分析影响患者总生存率的相关因素。结果 qRT-PCR结果显示：14例HCC新鲜组织中NQO1 mRNA表达明显上调(P<0.01);免疫组化结果显示：与癌旁肝组织(阳性率30.43%,高表达率21.74%)和新鲜正常肝组织(阳性率10.00%,高表达率10.00%)相比，HCC组织中NQO1蛋白阳性率[86.42%(132/156)]和高表达率[58.97%(92/156)]均显著增高(P均<0.01);NQO1高表达与肿瘤直径、血管侵犯和pTNM分期有关，NQO1高表达HCC患者的无瘤生存率和总生存率均明显降低(P均<0.001);pTNM分期Ⅲ+Ⅳ期HCC中，NQO1...     

PTP1B蛋白高表达在卵巢癌临床预后评价中的意义

目的探讨PTP1B在上皮性卵巢癌中的表达及与临床病理特征和预后的关系。方法应用Oncomine数据库和免疫组化法检测卵巢癌组织中PTP1B的表达情况,进一步分析PTP1B表达与卵巢癌临床病理特征及预后的关系。结果通过Oncomine数据库分析发现PTP1B在卵巢浆液性囊腺癌组织中的表达高于正常组织(P 0. 001)。免疫组化结果显示PTP1B表达与卵巢癌FIGO分期(P 0. 001)和大网膜转移相关(P=0. 002)。Kaplan-Meier生存分析显示,与PTP1B低表达组相比,PTP1B高表达组患者的总生存期更短(P 0. 001)。多因素分析显示FIGO分期和PTP1B表达是影响卵巢癌患者总生存期的独立预后因素。结论卵巢癌中PTP1B表达与肿瘤进展和患者不良预后密切相关。PTP1B可能是影响卵巢癌患者不良预后的有价值评估指标之一。     

Association of cortactin, fascin-1 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in ovarian carcinomas: correlation with clinicopathological parameters

Cortactin, fascin-1 and EGFR are recognized as important factors in tumor progression. We tested the hypothesis that cortactin, fascin-1 and EGFR expression correlates with clinicopathological parameters of the four most common ovarian surface epithelial carcinomas--serous cystadenocarcinoma, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, endometrioid adenocarcinoma, and clear cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical analysis of cortactin, fascin-1 and EGFR was performed using tissue microarrays of 172 specimens comprising 69 serous cystadenocarcinomas, 44 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 45 endometrioid adenocarcinomas and 14 clear cell carcinomas. All ovarian carcinomas showed significant expression of cortactin, fascin-1 and EGFR in staining intensity, tumor percentages and immunostaining scores. In addition, higher immunostaining scores of fascin-1 correlated with more advanced cancer stages (TNM), poorer histological differentiation and poorer survival rate of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. Similarly, higher immunostaining scores of cortactin correlated with T stages and histological differentiation of serous cystadenocarcinoma. The immunostaining scores of EGFR did not correlate with TNM stages, tumor differentiation or prognosis in the four ovarian surface epithelial carcinomas. Our findings suggest that cortactin and fascin-1 may serve as good biomarkers in evaluating aggressiveness of ovarian serous and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. And the pharmacological inhibitors of fascin-1 activity may slow down tumor progression and prolong survival time in patients with mucinous cystadenocarcinoma.     

Expression and mutational analysis of c-kit in ovarian surface epithelial tumors

Coexpression of Kit ligand and c-kit has been reported in some gynecologic tumors. To determine whether imatinib mesylate is useful in ovarian epithelial tumors, we performed immunohistochemical and mutational analysis. The cases consisted of 33 cases, which included 13 serous cystadenocarcinomas, 1 borderline serous tumor, 8 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 6 borderline mucinous tumors and 5 clear cell carcinomas. Five cases of serous cystadenoma and 5 cases of mucinous cystadenoma were also included. In the immunohistochemical study, 3 cases (3/6, 50%) of borderline mucinous cystic tumor and two cases (2/8, 25%) of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma show positive staining for KIT protein. Only one case (1/13, 7.7%) of serous cystadenocarcinoma had positive staining. On mutational analysis, no mutation was identified at exon 11. However, two cases of borderline mucinous tumors and one case of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma had mutations at exon 17. In these cases, the immunohistochemistry also shows focal positive staining at epithelial component. Although, KIT protein expression showed higher incidence in mucinous tumors than serous tumors, they lack KIT-activating mutations in exon 11. Thus, ovarian surface epithelial tumors are unlikely to respond to imatinib mesylate.     

卵巢上皮癌中细胞外信号调节激酶的表达及其与预后的关系

目的: 探讨磷酸化细胞外调节激酶(p-ERK)在卵巢上皮癌组织中的表达及其与肿瘤患者预后之间的关系。方法: 应用Western印迹方法分别测定正常卵巢组织、良性卵巢组织和卵巢上皮癌组织中p-ERK的含量;收集卵巢上皮癌患者的临床资料;应用Kaplan-Meier法和Cox回归对卵巢上皮癌患者进行生存分析。结果: (1)卵巢上皮癌组织中的p-ERK含量明显高于良性卵巢组织和正常卵巢组织(P<0.01),Ⅲ~Ⅳ期卵巢上皮癌组织中p-ERK含量明显高于I~II期(P<0.01),良性卵巢组织中p-ERK含量与正常卵巢组织相比无显著差异(P>0.05);(2)低分化卵巢上皮癌组织中的p-ERK含量高于中、高分化(P<0.01);(3)在不同病理类型卵巢癌中,与浆液性卵巢上皮癌组织相比,未分化腺癌组织中p-ERK含量与其相仿(P>0.05),而黏液性卵巢上皮癌和卵巢子宫内膜样癌组织中p-ERK含量较低(P<0.05);(4)p-ERK含量与生存时间呈负相关,p-ERK含量高的卵巢上皮癌患者生存时间短;(5)卵巢上皮癌患者的生存时间与p-ERK含量、残余灶、肿瘤分期、肿瘤分级以及化疗的疗程有着密切关系(P<0.05),而与肿瘤的病理类型没有相关性(P>0.05)。结论: p-ERK可能是卵巢上皮癌发病机制一个重要的调节激酶;测定p-ERK水平可能对卵巢上皮癌患者预后有预测价值。     

Axl and prostasin are biomarkers for prognosis of ovarian adenocarcinoma

In this study, the protein levels of Axl and prostasin in malignant neoplasms of the ovary and their clinicopathologic significance were investigated. The protein levels of Axl and prostasin in ovarian adenocarcinomas (n = 80), serous cystadenoma (n = 15), mucinous cystadenomas (n = 15), and normal ovary tissues (n = 10) were measured using immunohistochemistry. The percentage of Axl-positive cases was significantly higher in ovarian adenocarcinoma (61.3%) than in mucinous adenoma tissues (13.3%; P < .001) and normal tissues (0.0%; P = .000). The percentage of prostasin-positive cases was significantly lower in ovarian adenocarcinoma (42.5%) than in mucinous adenoma tissues (86.7%; P = .000) and normal tissues (100%; P = .000). The expression of Axl was significantly lower in cases with G1 tumor and TNM stage I or II tumor with no lymph node metastasis than in cases with G3 tumor and TNM stage III or IV tumor with lymph node metastasis (P < .05 or P < .01). However, the expression pattern of prostasin was opposite to that of Axl (P < .01 or P < .01). Univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a negative correlation between Axl expression (P = .000) and overall survival and a positive correlation between prostasin expression (P = .000) and overall survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that Axl-positive expression and prostasin-negative expression are independent bad prognostic predictors in ovarian adenocarcinoma. Our study suggested that Axl and prostasin expression may be closely related to carcinogenesis, metastasis, and prognosis of ovarian adenocarcinoma.     

卵巢囊腺肿瘤的凝集素受体分布

55 cases of ovarian cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma were investigated with a panel of twelve various lectins and ABC technique. Results showed that RCA and WGA reacted with all the tumors, indicating that these two lectins are possibly functional differential markers of both ovarian mucinous and serous tumors. LCA, DBA and SJA might be of considerable help in differential diagnosis of serous cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma. PSA probably was a marker indicating malignant change of mucinous cystadenmas. Since there were different reactivities in mucinous and serous cystadenoma, SJA, DBA and SBA might be considered as the functional markers in differentiating these two different types of ovarian cystadenoma.     

TopoⅡα和抑癌基因PTEN在卵巢上皮性癌中的表达及其意义

目的探讨拓扑异构酶Ⅱα（TopoⅡα）和PTEN蛋白在卵巢上皮性癌组织中的表达及与临床病理特征的关系。方法应用免疫组化法检测56例卵巢上皮性癌组织,30例良性卵巢肿瘤及15例正常卵巢组织中TopoⅡα和PTEN蛋白的表达。结果 （1）TopoⅡα在良性卵巢肿瘤组织及正常卵巢组织中的阳性表达率为16.7%、13.3%,显著低卵巢癌组织的53.6%,差异有显著性（P〈0.05）;TopoⅡα表达与卵巢癌临床分期、淋巴结转移有关,而与年龄、病理类型、组织学分级无关。（2）PTEN蛋白在卵巢癌组织中的阳性表达率为33.9%,低于正常卵巢和良性上皮肿瘤组织的93.3%,100%（P〈0.05）;PTEN蛋白表达与卵巢癌临床分期、组织学分级、淋巴结转移有关,而与年龄、病理类型无关。（3）卵巢癌组织中TopoⅡα和PTEN蛋白间的表达呈负相关（r=-0.507,P〈0.05）。结论 TopoⅡα和PTEN蛋白的异常表达可能与上皮性卵巢癌的发生、发展、侵袭性和预后相关,通过对它们的检测可以对卵巢癌的预后及化疗提供理论依据。     

Association of pancreatic adenocarcinoma up-regulated factor expression in ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma with poor prognosis

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma up-regulated factor (PAUF) expression is elevated in both ovarian tumors and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, PAUF expression in ovarian tumors according to histologic subtype and grade has not been investigated. In this study, we examined various clinicopathologic features of 24 patients with mucinous cystadenoma (MCA), 36 with mucinous borderline tumors (MBTs), and 46 with mucinous adenocarcinomas (MACs) according to PAUF expression status assessed using immunohistochemistry. We found that MACs more frequently stained positive for PAUF than did MCAs and MBTs (P < 0.0001). Although there was no significant differences with respect to other clinicopathologic characteristics of MACs according to PAUF expression status, patients with PAUF-weakly positive and PAUF-strongly positive MACs tended to have a shorter overall survival (OS) than those with PAUF-negative MAC, determined using a Kaplan–Meier analysis (P = 0.1885). After adjusting for various clinicopathologic parameters, PAUF positivity of MACs was a significant predictive factor for disease-free survival (DFS) (negative vs. weakly positive: P = 0.045, hazard ratio [HR] = 57.406, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.090-3022.596; and negative vs. strongly positive: P = 0.034, HR = 97.890, 95% CI: 1.412-6785.925). In conclusion, PAUF was more frequently expressed in MAC than in its benign and borderline counterparts, and was associated with a poor OS and DFS in MAC patients. Therefore, we suggest that PAUF may be a practical biomarker for histopathological categorization and a prognostic marker for patients with an ovarian mucinous tumor.     

卵巢良性和恶性粘液性囊腺瘤酸性粘蛋白的组化改变

用4种酸性粘蛋白组织化学染色法,观察90例卵巢良性和恶性粘渡性囊腺瘤酸性粘蛋白的含量和成分。发现粘液性囊腺癌酸性粘蛋白含量明显高于交界性粘液性囊腺瘤和钻液性囊腺瘤。绝大多数粘液性囊腺瘤酸性粘蛋白的主要成分是唾液酸粘蛋白,或唾液酸和硫酸两种粘蛋白的混合,仅少数瘤含有较多硫酸粘蛋白。与囊腺癌上皮比较,良性囊腺瘤上皮中唾液酸粘蛋白含量增多,或两种酸性粘蛋白均减少。据认为:①当囊腺瘤恶变时,酸性粘蛋白逐渐增加;②唾液酸粘蛋白(部分肿瘤含硫酸粘蛋白)增多是卵巢粘液性囊腺癌的组化特点;③酸性粘蛋白含量可能与肿瘤生物学行为有关。     

Expression of heat-shock proteins hsp27, hsp70 and hsp90 in malignant epithelial tumour of the ovaries

Recently, considerable attention has been focused on the role of the small heat-shock protein group hsp27, hsp70 and hsp90 in the clinical outcome of several malignancies. However, conflicting data exist regarding the prognostic role of hsp27 expression in ovarian carcinoma, and the prognostic significance of hsp70 and hsp90 expression still remains unknown in these tumours. The purpose of this study was to investigate immunohistochemically whether hsp27, hsp70 and hsp90 expression was associated with clinicopathological parameters and survival in 52 epithelial ovarian carcinomas. Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Among clinicopathological parameters, hsp27, hsp70 and hsp90 expression was only correlated with FIGO stage; hsp70 and hsp90 positivity failed to detect survival. However, the overall survival rate of patients with hsp27 expression was 13%, which was significantly worse than that of patients without hsp27 expression (47%) (p<0.01). The prognosis was also adversely affected by FIGO stage (p<0.01) and presence of ascites (p<0.01). In multivariate analysis, hsp27 expression and FIGO stage were independent prognostic variables. Our results indicate that hsp70 and hsp90 expression had no prognostic relevance in epithelial ovarian carcinomas. However, hsp27 expression and FIGO stage in these tumours could be reliable indicators of prognosis.