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Journal of Ovarian Research

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Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Expression and prognostic significance of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor in epithelial ovarian cancer

Authors: Jonna Berntsson, Sebastian Lundgren, Björn Nodin, Mathias Uhlén, Alexander Gaber, Karin Jirström

Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research | Issue 1/2014

Abstract

Background

High expression of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR) has previously been associated with a favourable prognosis in a few cancer forms, but its expression and relationship with clinical outcome in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the clinicopathological correlates and prognostic significance of PIGR expression in EOC.

Methods

After an initial screening in the Human Protein Atlas portal, a validated antibody was selected for extended analysis of immunohistochemical PIGR expression in tissue microarrays with tumours from 154 incident cases of EOC from two pooled prospective population-based cohorts. Subsets of corresponding benign-appearing fallopian tubes (n = 38) and omental metastases (n = 33) were also analysed. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis were applied to examine the impact of PIGR expression on overall survival (OS) and ovarian cancer-specific survival (OCSS).

Results

PIGR expression was significantly higher in fallopian tubes compared to primary tumours and metastases (p < 0.001) and lower in carcinoma of the serous subtype compared to other carcinomas (p < 0.001). PIGR expression was significantly associated with lower grade (p = 0.001), mucinous histological subtype (p = 0.002), positive progesterone receptor expression (p = 0.009) and negative or low Ki-67 expression (p = 0.003). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly improved OS (p = 0.013) and OCSS (p = 0.009) for patients with tumours displaying high expression of PIGR. These associations were confirmed in unadjusted Cox regression analysis (HR = 0.48; 95% CI 0.26-0.87; p = 0.015 for OS and HR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.22-0.82; p = 0.011 for OCSS) but did not remain significant after adjustment for age, grade and clinical stage.

Conclusions

This study provides a first demonstration of PIGR expression in human fallopian tubes, primary EOC tumours and metastases. High tumour-specific expression of PIGR was found to be associated with a favourable prognosis in unadjusted, but not in adjusted, analysis. These findings are novel and merit further investigation.

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Title: Expression and prognostic significance of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor in epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Jonna Berntsson
Sebastian Lundgren
Björn Nodin
Mathias Uhlén
Alexander Gaber
Karin Jirström
Publication date: 01-12-2014
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1757-2215
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-2215-7-26

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Expression and prognostic significance of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor in epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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