It was previously shown that transducin-like enhancer of split 3 (TLE3) is associated with outcome in patients with taxane-treated breast cancer and endometrioid ovarian cancer (OC). In the present work we assessed the association between TLE3 expression and survival rates in patients with serous ovarian carcinoma.
100 patients diagnosed with primary serous advanced EOC, underwent complex therapy in Minsk city oncologic center in 2007-2011. Immunohistochemical staining of TLE3 was performed on tissue obtained from the surgical resection. The tumor was considered TLE3-positive when stained with more than 30% of the nuclei.
5-year overall survival (OS) was 0,480 (95% CI [0,379; 0,609]), the median lifetime – 45,5 months. The progression free survival (PFS) was 0,301 (95% CI [0,220; 0,412]). The TLE3 positive tumors were revealed in 19%. PFS was 0,490 (95% CI [0,287; 0,837] in cases with positive tumors in compare with 0,261 (95% CI [0,179; 0,380]) – in negative tumors (P = 0,023). OS was 0,756 (95% CI [0,574; 0,996]) in TLE3 positive cases and 0,434 (95% CI [0,326; 0,578]) - in negative (P = 0,095). All patients with TLE3 positive tumors underwent platinum based chemotherapy and taxanes. In the group with TLE3 negative tumors both platinum based regimens were used – with taxanes or cyclophosphamide. 5-year PFS was similar in the groups – 0,261 (95% CI [0,172; 0,394]) and 0,250 (95% CI [0,094; 0,666]) (P = 0,070), OS – 0,449 (95% CI [0,331; 0,607]) and 0,400 (95% CI [0,196; 0,818]) (P = 0,248).
Determination of TLE3 expression in the resected tumor is necessary for predicting tumor response to chemotherapy. Positive TLE3 expression can serve as the indication for the inclusion of taxanes in the adjuvant chemotherapy schemes. Negative TLE3 expression is a factor of poor prognosis both when using taxanes, and when using cyclophosphamide. Therefore, treatment of this category of patients should start with second-line regimens.
Belarusian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Department of Oncology
Belarusian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.