Potential role and prognostic importance of dishevelled-2 in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: To investigate the role and prognostic importance of Dvl2 in human epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Methods: A multimethod study was undertaken including patients with pathologically confirmed non-metastatic EOC who underwent surgery for maximum tumor resection at a center in China. Dvl2 expression was assessed by western blot using fresh EOC tissues and normal ovarian tissues obtained between June 2014 and January 2015. Additionally, retrospective data were obtained for patients treated between April 2004 and September 2009. Their tumor specimens were used in immunohistochemistry analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival plots were constructed to estimate the overall survival by Dvl2 expression, and a Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze prognostic factors. Alterations in Dvl2 expression during the cell cycle were assessed by a starvation and refeeding assay.

Results: Dvl2 expression was higher in EOC samples than in normal tissues on western blot. Overall, 124 patients were included in immunohistochemistry analysis, and Dvl2 expression level was significantly associated with the tumor grade and Ki-67 expression. Overexpression of Dvl2 was correlated with poor prognosis. The pattern of Dvl2 expression throughout the cell cycle matched that of the cell proliferation marker cyclin D1.

Conclusion: Dvl2 could play a part in EOC progression and might be an independent prognostic factor. Additionally, it might be a prospective therapeutic target in the treatment of EOC.