PURPOSE: Human kallikrein 13 (hK13; encoded by the KLK13 gene) is a secreted serine protease expressed in endocrine tissues, including the prostate, testis, breast, and ovary. We have previously reported steroid hormone regulation of the KLK13 gene and its clinical value as a marker of favorable prognosis in breast cancer at the mRNA level. We hypothesized that hK13 may represent a potential biomarker for ovarian carcinomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hK13 levels were quantified in 131 ovarian tumor extracts and correlated with various clinicopathological variables and outcome (progression-free survival [PFS], overall survival [OS]), over a median follow-up period of 42 months. RESULTS: hK13 concentration in ovarian tumor cytosols ranged from 0 to 18.4 ng/mg of total protein. An optimal cutoff value of 0.13 ng/mg (67(th) percentile) was selected, based on the ability of hK13 values to predict the PFS of the study population, to categorize tumors as hK13-positive or negative. Women with hK13-positive tumors most often had early stage (stage I/II) disease, no residual tumor after surgery and optimal debulking success (P <.05). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that patients with hK13-positive tumors had a significantly longer PFS and OS than hK13-negative patients (P <.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curves further confirmed a reduced risk of relapse and death in women with hK13-positive tumors (P =.007 and P =.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that hK13 is an independent marker of favorable prognosis in ovarian cancer.
PURPOSE:Humankallikrein 13 (hK13; encoded by the KLK13 gene) is a secreted serine protease expressed in endocrine tissues, including the prostate, testis, breast, and ovary. We have previously reported steroid hormone regulation of the KLK13 gene and its clinical value as a marker of favorable prognosis in breast cancer at the mRNA level. We hypothesized that hK13 may represent a potential biomarker for ovarian carcinomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hK13 levels were quantified in 131 ovarian tumor extracts and correlated with various clinicopathological variables and outcome (progression-free survival [PFS], overall survival [OS]), over a median follow-up period of 42 months. RESULTS:hK13 concentration in ovarian tumor cytosols ranged from 0 to 18.4 ng/mg of total protein. An optimal cutoff value of 0.13 ng/mg (67(th) percentile) was selected, based on the ability of hK13 values to predict the PFS of the study population, to categorize tumors as hK13-positive or negative. Women with hK13-positive tumors most often had early stage (stage I/II) disease, no residual tumor after surgery and optimal debulking success (P <.05). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that patients with hK13-positive tumors had a significantly longer PFS and OS than hK13-negative patients (P <.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curves further confirmed a reduced risk of relapse and death in women with hK13-positive tumors (P =.007 and P =.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that hK13 is an independent marker of favorable prognosis in ovarian cancer.
Authors: Kristin L M Boylan; Ashley Petersen; Timothy K Starr; Xuan Pu; Melissa A Geller; Robert C Bast; Karen H Lu; Ugo Cavallaro; Denise C Connolly; Kevin M Elias; Daniel W Cramer; Tanja Pejovic; Amy P N Skubitz Journal: Cancers (Basel) Date: 2022-06-23 Impact factor: 6.575
Authors: Amy P N Skubitz; Kristin L M Boylan; Kate Geschwind; Qing Cao; Timothy K Starr; Melissa A Geller; Joseph Celestino; Robert C Bast; Karen H Lu; Joseph S Koopmeiners Journal: Cancer Prev Res (Phila) Date: 2019-02-01
Authors: N M A White; T-F F Chow; S Mejia-Guerrero; M Diamandis; Y Rofael; H Faragalla; M Mankaruous; M Gabril; A Girgis; G M Yousef Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2010-03-30 Impact factor: 7.640