Chemoresistance Is Associated with MUC1 and Lewis y Antigen Expression in Ovarian Epithelial Cancers

• Main Authors: Danye Zhang, Jian Gao, Liancheng Zhu, Zhenhua Hu, Rui Hou, Shuice Liu, Mingzi Tan, Juanjuan Liu, Bei Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2013-05-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: ovarian epithelial cancer; MUC1; Lewis y antigen; chemoresistance; immunohistochemistry
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/14/6/11024

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation and clinical significance between the expression of Mucin-1 (MUC1) and the Lewis y antigen with chemoresistance in ovarian epithelial cancers. Methods: Ovarian cancer patients (n = 92) treated at our hospital from May 2005 to July 2009 were divided, according to their treatment and follow-up outcomes, into a resistant group (n = 37) or sensitive group (n = 55). The expression of MUC1 and Lewis y antigen in ovarian cancer tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry and correlated with chemoresistance. Results: The positive rates of MUC1 and Lewis y antigen in the resistant group were both 91.89%, significantly higher than their positive rates in the sensitive group (65.45% and 69.09%, respectively, and both p < 0.05). MUC1 or Lewis y expression and the pathological stage of the tissue were independent risk factors for chemoresistance (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: The increased expression of MUC1 and the Lewis y antigen is a significant risk factor for chemoresistance in patients with ovarian epithelial cancer.