The prognostic impact of EphB2/B4 expression on patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma

To analyze expressions of the EphB2 and EphB4 receptors in ovarian carcinomas and explore their clinicopathological correlations and prognostic value.

115 patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma FIGO IIB to IV were involved. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the expressions of EphB2/B4 receptor mRNA and protein. Correlations between protein expression and clinicopathological factors were also analyzed.

Ovarian carcinoma patients with age elder than 60 years had higher EphB2 expression than younger patients. Expression of EphB2 and EphB4 protein did not significantly correlate with any other clinical variables, including FIGO stage, residual tumor, histological type and differentiation grade. No significant correlation between mRNA and protein expression level for both of these receptors was seen. It was found that patients with strong immunostaining for EphB2 (P = 0.03) or EphB4 (P = 0.003) receptors had poorer survival, and patients with strong immunostaining for EphB4 receptor showed poorer response to chemotherapy (P = 0.036).

These studies suggest that EphB2 and B4 receptors are of prognostic value and EphB4 receptor may be an independent predictor of chemotherapy response in ovarian cancer patients.