Biological malignancy grading in early-stage ovarian carcinoma

The usefulness of adjuvant therapy in early ovarian cancer is a matter of controversy and there is a need for predictive methods to distinguish between low and high risk patients. Specimens from 95 early-stage ovarian cancer patients have been analysed for conventional clinical variables as well as for the biological markers--DNA content, MIB-1, p53, WAF-1--and correlated to survival. Prognostic significance achieved in univariate analysis could be improved by using a score based on several biological markers. Using a score based on DNA content, MIB-1, p53 and WAF-1, a significant predictor could be achieved with the aim of determining the postsurgical therapy. By using this tool, it is hoped that adjuvant therapy can be avoided for one-third of the patients with early-stage ovarian cancer.