Trop-2 overexpression as an independent marker for poor overall survival in ovarian carcinoma patients

Background Prognostic factors currently available are insufficient to predict the clinical course of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). In a previous microarray study we identified the human trophoblast cell surface antigen Trop-2 as one of the top differentially expressed genes in serous papillary EOCs compared to normal human ovarian surface epithelial (HOSE) short-term cultures. The aim of the present investigation was to analyse Trop-2 expression at mRNA and protein level and to assess its prognostic significance in EOC. Methods Using quantitative real-time PCR we tested a total of 104 fresh-frozen EOC tissues and 24 HOSE for Trop-2 mRNA expression. Trop-2 protein expression was then examined by immunohistochemistry in matched formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded EOC samples and in 13 normal ovaries. Finally, we correlated Trop-2 expression to EOC conventional clinicopathological features and patient outcomes. Results We found a significant Trop-2 mRNA and protein upregulation in EOCs compared to normal controls (p < 0.001). Trop-2 protein overexpression was significantly associated with the presence of ascites (p = 0.04) and lymph node metastases (p = 0.04). By univariate survival analysis, Trop-2 protein overexpression was significantly associated with decreased progression-free (p = 0.02) and overall survival (p = 0.01). Importantly, Trop-2 protein overexpression was an independent prognostic marker for shortened survival time in multivariate Cox regression analysis (p = 0.04, HR = 2.35, CI95%= 1.03–5.34). Conclusions Our results indicate, for the first time, that Trop-2 protein overexpression correlates with an aggressive malignant phenotype and may constitute a novel prognostic factor for EOC. The targeting of Trop-2 overexpression by immunotherapeutic strategies may represent an attractive and potentially effective approach in patients harbouring EOC.