PURPOSE: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) producing tumours were found associated with poor prognosis. Unfortunately, this finding is based on several case reports only. Thus, we investigated the expression of G-CSF in the tumour cells and the tumour stroma in a large collective of patients with ovarian cancer with long-term follow-up. METHODS: Tissue and clinical records of 175 patients with histologically confirmed ovarian carcinoma were analysed for G-CSF expression in tumour cells and the surrounding stroma. The results were compared with peripheral blood counts and other prognostic factors in ovarian cancer. RESULTS: No correlations were found between both G-CSF expression in tumour cells and the surrounding stroma and prognosis as well as peripheral blood counts. We only found a positive influence of granulocytes in the tumour stroma on prognosis, which however, was not significant in multifactorial analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the many case reports from other entities, G-CSF expression in tumour cells and the surrounding stroma is not an adverse prognostic factor. To find out the safety of G-CSF administration for the prevention or treatment of febrile neutropenia, it is suggested for clinical trials to include long-term follow-up and immunohistochemical characterisation of the tumour.
PURPOSE:Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) producing tumours were found associated with poor prognosis. Unfortunately, this finding is based on several case reports only. Thus, we investigated the expression of G-CSF in the tumour cells and the tumour stroma in a large collective of patients with ovarian cancer with long-term follow-up. METHODS: Tissue and clinical records of 175 patients with histologically confirmed ovarian carcinoma were analysed for G-CSF expression in tumour cells and the surrounding stroma. The results were compared with peripheral blood counts and other prognostic factors in ovarian cancer. RESULTS: No correlations were found between both G-CSF expression in tumour cells and the surrounding stroma and prognosis as well as peripheral blood counts. We only found a positive influence of granulocytes in the tumour stroma on prognosis, which however, was not significant in multifactorial analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the many case reports from other entities, G-CSF expression in tumour cells and the surrounding stroma is not an adverse prognostic factor. To find out the safety of G-CSF administration for the prevention or treatment of febrile neutropenia, it is suggested for clinical trials to include long-term follow-up and immunohistochemical characterisation of the tumour.
Authors: Belinda Yeo; Andrew D Redfern; Kellie A Mouchemore; John A Hamilton; Robin L Anderson Journal: Clin Exp Metastasis Date: 2018-07-02 Impact factor: 5.150