FSCN1 as prognostic marker in borderline tumors of the ovary

• Published in: Journal of clinical oncology Vol. 38; no. 15_suppl; p. e18061
• Main Authors: El-Balat, Ahmed, Holtrich, Uwe, Karn, Thomas, Becker, Sven
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 20.05.2020
• ISSN: 0732-183X; 1527-7755
• DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.e18061

Abstract only e18061 Background: Risk factors for invasive recurrence of borderline tumours (BOT) of the ovary are needed. The actin-bundling protein Fascin-1 (FSCN1) is involved in alteration of adhesion and cell motility and has been associated with invasion and metastasis in different cancers. Methods: We studied a retrospective cohort of 124 bordeline tumors of the ovary (BOT) with validated diagnosis by an independent pathologist for expression of FSCN1 as potential prognostic biomarker. Results: We found strong expression of the actin-bundling protein FSCN1 in 62 of these tumors. FSCN1 positive patients were slightly younger (46.9±2.2 vs. 53.3±2.3 years, P = 0.049). Expression of FSCN1 was more frequently detected in BOT with serous compared to mucinous histotype (58/78 [74.4%] vs. 3/41 [7.3%], p < 0.001), and in cases with micropapillary pattern (25/28 [89.3%] vs. 38/98 [38.8%], P < 0.001). In addition, a non significant trend was observed for more frequent expression of FSCN1 among cases with implants (8/10 [80.0%] vs. 55/116 [47.4%], P = 0.095). When we compared progression free survival of the patients we found numerical lower but not statistically significant PFS rates of 90.5±6.4% vs. 94.4±5.4% for 10 years, and 81.4±10.3% vs. 94.4±5.4% for 15 years, in BOT with FSCN1 expression compared to those tumors negative for FSCN1, respectively. Conclusions: Our analysis suggests an association of FSCN1 expression in BOT with micropapillary pattern and implants, which have been linked to inferior prognosis. Cases with FSCN1 expression in our cohort displayed numerical lower PFS rates prompting further studies of this marker.