Prognostic value of nuclear DNA quantification and cyclin A expression in epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction (SPF) and the expression of cyclin A to the clinical prognostic factors in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective analysis was performed on 46 ovarian tumor patients. The DNA ploidy and SPF were determined by flow cytometry and the expression of cyclin A was measured by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS: Compared with benign and borderline tumors, the malignant tumors expressed higher levels of cyclin A (P=0.007), more aneuploid cells (P=0.018) and higher SPF (P=0.015). With regard to DNA ploidy and the clinical prognostic factors, aneuploid cells increased with tumor grade (P=0.011), the disease stage (P=0.009) and residual volume (P=0.001). When residual tumor was more than 2 cm, the expression of cyclin A was increased (P=0.043). Three-year survival was low for patients with tumors expressing cyclin A in over 10% of cells (P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the assessment of the DNA ploidy, SPF and the expression of cyclin A may provide important information for predicting the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer.