Advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer: inverse association of KLK13 and KLK14 mRNA levels in tumor tissue and patients' prognosis.

Purpose: Gene expression of a variety of the 15 members of the KLK serine protease family is dysregulated in ovarian cancer. We aimed at determining the clinical relevance of KLK13 and KLK14 mRNA expression in tumor tissues of a homogeneous patient cohort afflicted with advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer (FIGO stage III/IV).

Methods: mRNA expression levels of KLK13 and KLK14 were assessed by quantitative PCR in tumor tissue of 91 patients and related with clinical factors and patients' outcome.