Objective: To evaluate fascin expression as a prognostic factor and
its correlation with survival and clinicopathologic factors (degree of
differentiation and stage) in epithelial ovarian carcinoma.
Methods: This study is prognostic study with historical cohort design.
Fascin was analyzed in paraffin block sections of 33 advanced
stage ovarian carcinoma patients using immunohistochemistry. Fascin
expression was tested for its correlation with overall survival as
well as with grade and stage of the cancer.
Results: In this study, fascin expression has no correlation with survival.
In the period of 17-22 months, samples with high fascin expression
had a HR of 1.59 (95% CI=0.38-6.67, p=0.449), but in the
period of 17-23 months, both groups had comparable HR. In the period
of more than 23 months, samples with high expression of fascin
had a better HR of 0.40 (95% CI=0.04-4.38, p=0.449). No significant
correlation was found between fascin expression with grade
(OR=2.08, 95% CI=0.44-9.84, p=0.442) and stage (OR=2.70, 95%
CI=0.39-18.96, p=0.360).
Conclusion: In this study, there was no correlation between fascin
expression and survival, and also no correlation between fascin,
grade and stage. Further study with a larger, more homogenous
sample, analyzing confounding factors is needed.
[Indones J Obstet Gynecol 2015; 3-4: 222-229]
Keywords: advanced stage ovarian carcinoma, fascin, survival