Initial activation status of the antioxidant response determines sensitivity to carboplatin/paclitaxel treatment of ovarian cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM: Ovarian carcinoma is the main cause of gynecological cancer related deaths. The aim of this study was to determine the activation status of the antioxidant response in samples of ovarian serous carcinoma from paraffin-embedded biopsies and compare them with the response of patients to carboplatin-paclitaxel treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), antioxidant enzymes, and uncoupling protein (UCP) levels were analyzed by western blotting and the presence of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) was investigated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS: Lower levels of ERα, antioxidant enzymes and UCPs were found in patients resistant to treatment in comparison to the carboplatin/paclitaxel-sensitive ones; IHC revealed a greater presence of ERβ in sensitive patients. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that patients resistant to treatment have a lower level of antioxidant response activation compared to sensitive patients, fact which may be related to the efficacy of this treatment.