Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2016; 76 - P022
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1592960

Expression and impact of TFF3 in epithelial ovarian cancer

F Hoellen 1, A Rody 1, A Kostara 1, T Karn 2, U Holtrich 2, A El-Balat 2, M Otto 3, L Hanker 1
  • 1Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Lübeck, Deutschland
  • 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Deutschland
  • 3Medical Center for Histopathology, Cytology and Molecular Diagnostics, Trier, Deutschland

Aim: The role of trefoil factor 3 (intestinal) (TFF3) has been analyzed in a multitude of cancers, e.g. breast cancer and gastrointestinal cancers, and has been associated with poor prognosis. Still, the role of TFF3 in ovarian cancers is not clear.

Materials and methods: Expression analysis of TFF3 in n = 91 ovarian cancer patients was performed by immunohistochemistry of primary paraffin embedded tumor samples. Results were scored according to staining intensity and percentage of positive tumor cells resulting in an immune-reactive score 0 – 12 (IRS). These results were correlated to clinical and pathological characteristics as well as survival.

Results: TFF3 expression in our patient cohort showed a tendency towards improved overall and progression free survival (PFS). In TFF3-positive serous and high grade serous ovarian cancers, median PFS was 27.6 months (95% CI: 0 – 55.7) vs. 15.2 months in TFF3- negative tumors (95% CI: 13.8 – 16.6) (p = 0.183). Median Overall survival OAS was 53.9 months in TFF-3 positive tumors (95% CI: n.a.) vs. 44.4 months in TFF3-negative samples (95% CI: 30.5 – 58.3) (p = 0.36)

TFF3 negativity was significantly associated with higher grading (p = 0.05).

Conclusion: Our results showed a tendency towards worse prognosis in TFF3- negative ovarian cancers. Based on our results, further studies are needed in order to elucidate the question whether survival and chemosensitivity are influenced by TFF3 in ovarian cancer.