E-cadherin as a prognostic marker in human serous carcinomas of the ovary: an immunohistochemical analysis.

Background: Ovarian cancer is a gynecologic cancer with a high mortality rate, demonstrating the need for effective and reliable tumor markers during the staging and treatment processes.

Methods: Expression of E-cadherin was immunohistochemically analyzed in 100 ovarian cancer tissue samples.

Results: A significant association of E-cadherin expression with histological grading (p = 0.001) and surgical stage (p = 0.020) could be demonstrated. However, the staining intensity of E-cadherin was not significantly associated with progression-free, cause-specific survival or overall survival in serous ovarian carcinomas.

Conclusions: The E-cadherin expression was associated with FIGO surgical staging and histological differentiation in serious ovarian carcinomas, suggesting a substantial role in the carcinogenesis of serous ovarian carcinomas. However, although patients with a strong E-cadherin staining intensity had a better prognosis, no statistical significant differences could be observed. Therefore, E-cadherin might not be a useful prognostic tumor marker in serous ovarian carcinomas.