Objective The E-cadherin protein plays major roles in tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. Polymorphisms located in the E-cadherin gene (CDH1) may contribute to increased risks of specific cancers. In this study, we evaluated the associations between genetic variants in CDH1 and the clinical outcomes of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Materials and Methods We assessed the −160C/A and −347G/GA polymorphisms in the promoter region, as well as the 3′-UTR +54C/T polymorphism of E-cadherin, in 257 patients with EOC by ligase detection reaction–polymerase chain reaction.

Results Multivariate analysis showed that patients with EOC with the CDH1 −347GA/GA genotype had shorter progression-free survival and overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 2.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–4.40 and HR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.01–4.19, respectively) compared to those carrying the G/G genotype. Likewise, the patients with the CDH1 −160A/A genotype had a shorter progression-free survival than those with the C/C genotype (HR, 4.12; 95% CI, 1.43–111.88). No significant association was detected between the CDH1 3′-UTR +54C/T polymorphism and survival of the patients with EOC.

Conclusions The CDH1 −347GA/GA and −160A/A genotypes may be prognostic markers that can help to identify patients at increased risk of invasive/metastatic cancer in northern China.