Heat shock protein 27: an independent prognostic indicator of survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Objective. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is produced in response to pathophysiologic stress in animal cells. The purpose of this study was to determine prospectively whether HSP27 was associated with known prognostic factors as well as survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Methods. Ninety-nine patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma were studied. Slides were prepared from fresh tissue. Patient records were examined for FIGO stage, grade, histology, level of cytoreduction, and survival. Results. Immunohistochemical staining for HSP27 was not related to histologic grade, level of cytoreduction or histologic subtype. A statistically significant difference in HSP27 staining was found in relation to FIGO stage ( P = 0.013). HSP27 staining was found to be an independent predictor of 2-year survival in these patients ( P = 0.041). Conclusion. The level of HSP27 significantly decreases as the FIGO stage increases and is an independent prognostic indicator of survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.