Clinical Significance Of PAX8 Expression In Ovarian Malignant Tumor Lesions

ObjectiveThis investigation aimed at the influence factors and clinical significance of PAX8 in ovarian malignant tumor lesions. MethodsBy immunohistochemical staining, the expression of PAX8 in 60 primary epithelial ovarian cancers(PEOC), 20 ovarian benign lesions and 10 metastatic ovarian cancers have been analyzed in regarding to the clinicopathological profiles. The relation between PAX8 and clinicopathological parameters or prognosis of patients has respectively been analyzed too. ResultsPAX8 was showed specific staining for PEOC, but not for metastatic ovarian cancer. Positive rate of PAX8 in PEOC was 92%(57/60), which was extremely higher than that in metastatic ovarian cancer(P<0.001). However, there was no difference in PAX8 expression of PEOC with different pathological types(P=0.871). Positive rate of PAX8 in ovarian benign tumor was 85%, which was no difference with PAX8 expression in PEOC(P=0.761). According to PAX8 staining intensity and range, it was divided into five grades. We found that the higher grade of PAX8 expression was associated with the lower level of cancer cell differentiation(P=0.033) and the later FIGO stage of PEOC(P=0.003), but not for pathological type of ovarian cancer. Survival statistics showed that patients of higher PAX8 expression with PEOC were suffered a shorter postoperative survival time(P=0.009). ConclusionPAX8 was expressed specific in PEOC and was associated with cancer cell differentiation and FIGO stage. The elevated PAX8 expression closely correlated with patient survival. It is very important for PAX8 to determine the source of PEOC and to affect prognosis.