The prognostic significance of COX-2 and survivin expression in ovarian cancer

We investigated the prognostic significance of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and survivin in ovarian carcinoma. Imprint smears were obtained from 100 ovarian carcinoma specimens and were studied immunocytochemically for the expression of COX-2 and survivin. The results were correlated with several clinicopathological parameters, including 5-year survival. Increased COX-2 staining pattern correlated with a non-mucinous histological type (p = 0.008), increased stage (p < 0.0001), high histological grade (p < 0.0001), and reduced survival rates (p < 0.00001). Survivin expression was strongly associated with increased stage (p < 0.0001), increased histological grade (p < 0.0001), and reduced survival (p < 0.00001). Elevated survivin expression also correlated significantly with pre-menopausal status (p = 0.033). In addition, COX-2 and survivin staining patterns correlated strongly with one another (p < 0.0001). However, on multivariate analysis, an independent prognostic value was found only for tumor stage and grade. The findings of our study indicate that the increased expression of COX-2 and survivin in ovarian cancer is associated with one another and with several adverse clinicopathologic parameters, including reduced survival, thus suggesting a role of these molecules in disease progression. Further investigations of the exact prognostic and therapeutic implications of COX-2 and survivin expression are strongly warranted. (c) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.