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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
Assessment of Ovarian Cancer Spheroid Attachment and Invasion of Mesothelial Cells in Real Time
Published on: May 20, 2014
Estrone sulfatase activity in patients with advanced ovarian cancer
Justin C Chura1, Charles H Blomquist, Hyung S Ryu
1Department of Obstetrics, Division of Gynecologic Oncology,University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Introduction:
We sought to identify whether the sulfatase pathway was present in ovarian cancer specimens and then to determine whether a clinical correlation existed between sulfatase activity and survival.
Materials And Methods:
Enzymatic activity was assessed in advanced ovarian cancer specimens via thin layer chromatography and standardized against total protein. All enzyme activities are reported in pmol/mg protein/30 min. Kaplan Meier curves of progression-free and overall survival were constructed to compare outcomes between patients with low sulfatase activity and high sulfatase activity. Median survival rates were compared using the log-rank test for survival curves. Differences in proportions between patients with low sulfatase activity versus high sulfatase activity were compared with the z-test or chi-square analysis as appropriate.
Results:
37 specimens from patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer were analyzed. Enzymatic activity was detected in all specimens except one. Median progression-free survival was 23.5 months for patients with low sulfatase activity compared to 6.9 months for patients with high sulfatase activity (p=0.008). Median overall survival favored the low sulfatase group (50.8 vs. 30.6 months respectively), though statistical difference was not detected (p=0.16). No other difference in clinical characteristics between patients with high or low sulfatase activity was detected.
Conclusions:
Sulfatase activity is widely present in ovarian cancer specimens. Increased sulfatase activity is associated with worse progression-free survival in patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer. The sulfatase pathway is a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
