Expression of octamer-4 in serous and mucinous ovarian carcinoma

摘要

Background Octamer-4 (0ct4) is a well known regulatorrnof self-renewal in embryonic stem cells; it has beenrndetected in several human cancers and may playrna critical role in carcinogenesis.rnAims To assess the expression of Oct4 in epithelialrnovarian tumours.rnMethods Expression of 0ct4 was evaluated byrnimmunohistochemistry in 460 cases of various epithelialrnovarian lesions as well as 35 cases of normal fallopianrntube epithelium. The association between 0ct4rnexpression and various clinical pathological parametersrnwas analysed.rnResults 0ct4 expression was significantly increasedrnfrom normal epithelium (both ovarian epithelium andrnfallopian tube epithelium) to benign and borderlinerncystadenoma to carcinoma in the serous lesionrnsubgroup. 0ct4 overexpression was associated withrnmore advanced FIGO stage and higher histological gradernin serous adenocarcinoma. Conversely, 0ct4 expressionrndid not differ among mucinous lesions or correlate withrnclinicopathological parameters in patients with mucinousrnadenocarcinoma.rnConclusion Results suggest that 0ct4 expression mayrncontribute to the initiation, promotion and progression ofrnserous ovarian carcinoma; it might be a useful biomarkerrnfor the diagnosis and outcome prediction of serousrnovarian carcinoma.