323 MRNA and protein expression of e-cadherin and vimentin and p53 immunohistochemistry in epithelial ovarian cancer

Objectives This study was designed to correlate expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway markers i.e., E-cadherin and Vimentin with surgicopathological extent of EOC and to type the tumour using p53 immunohistochemistry staining. Methods Women with malignant and benign epithelial ovarian tumours were studied. Sample size was calculated with 80% power and 5% level of significance ;22 cases (EOC) and 22 controls (benign ovarian tumour) were recruited. m-RNA and protein expression of E-cadherin and vimentin was done by real time PCR and IHC staining and p53 by IHC. Peritoneal extent of disease was calculated by peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI) and tumour resection by completeness of cytoreductive score (CCS) and correlations derived. Results In advanced EOC, positive correlation was found between PCI and CCS with correlation coefficient of 0.495, p-value Conclusions Expression of E-cadherin decreased and Vimentin increased in EOC which is in synchrony with EMT pathway, however larger studies are needed to derive an association between these markers and extent of disease.