Netrin-1 Expression in Uterine Serous Carcinoma and Its Association with Prognosis

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Few biomarkers are used to predict the prognosis of serous uterine carcinoma (USC). Netrin-1, may be a promising biomarker candidate. Our aim was to investigate netrin-1 expression in USC tissues and analyze its relevance with disease prognosis. Material and Methods: The expression of netrin-1 in 48 USC patients’ tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: The overall netrin-1 positivity rate was 76%, detected as high expression in 17 (35%), and low expression in 19 (40%) of the patients. Patients suffering from tumors with no expression of netrin-1 (n= 15) had a median OS of 60.0 months (95% CI, 47–98), while low to strong expression (n = 33) was associated with lower median OS of 50 months but this was not statistically significant (95% CI, 58–108; p= 0.531). Also, DFS was not statistically significant between groups. We did not find any difference in OS and DFS when age, tumor stage, histology, tumor diameter, lenfovascular invasion (LVSI), myoinvasion and lymph node metastasis were compared according to netrin-1 expression (p>0.05). Conclusion: Netrin-1 was found to be expressed in most USC patients, but its expression was not related to OS and DFS.