Elevated serum 8-OHdG is associated with poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is a marker of oxidative stress in DNA. This study was undertaken to reveal whether serum 8-OHdG could be a prognostic factor in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Preoperative serum 8-OHdG levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 84 stage I-IV EOC patients. Immunohistochemical (IHC) 8-OHdG expression was determined in 78 of these patients. RESULTS Strong 8-OHdG immunostaining predicted poor survival. High serum 8-OHdG (>140 pg/ml) was associated with poor ovarian cancer-specific survival (p<0.05) in patients with grade 1-2 EOC (p<0.05), but was not observed among the grade 3 patients. High 8-OHdG levels both in the serum and in the tumour tissue was associated with traditional factors of poor prognosis and serous histology. CONCLUSION Both serum and IHC 8-OHdG assessment may serve as prognostic tools in EOC and the role of oxidative stress as a carcinogenic factor in ovarian cancer pathogenesis is also suggested.