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Lymphovascular space invasion and Ki67 as predictors of lymph node metastasis in primary low grade serous ovarian cancer
  1. Jacek P Grabowski1,
  2. Joanna Glajzer1,
  3. Rolf Richter1,
  4. Helmut Plett1,
  5. Mustafa-Zelal Muallem1,
  6. Elena Ioana Braicu1,
  7. Eliane Taube2 and
  8. Jalid Sehouli1
  1. 1 Department of Gynecology with Center of Oncological Surgery, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  2. 2 Institute of Pathology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  1. Correspondence to Dr Jacek P Grabowski, Department of Gynecology, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin 13353, Germany; jacek.grabowski{at}charite.de

Abstract

Objective Low grade serous ovarian cancers characterize a unique clinical pattern and likely less frequent incidence of lymphatic metastasis. The expression level of Ki67 is associated with differences in prognosis and therapy outcome. However, its expression in combination with lymphovascular space invasion has not been evaluated in the prediction of lymphatic metastasis.

Methods Patients with low grade serous ovarian cancer were identified in an institutional database. Patients with primary low grade serous ovarian cancer diagnosed and/or treated at our center between September 2000 and December 2018 were identified. Receiver operator characteristics curve analysis was performed to find the cut-off values of per cent Ki67 to discriminate patients with lymph node metastasis. The association between the presence of lymphovascular space invasion and lymph node involvement was analyzed.

Results A total of 109 patients with primary low grade serous ovarian cancer were identified in our institution's database. Of these, 72 (66.1%) patients underwent primary surgery with pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection. Complete data for Ki67 expression and lymphovascular space invasion were obtained for 61 (84.7%) of these patients. Among them, 37 (60.7%) patients had lymph node metastasis. The presence of lymphovascular space invasion was associated with an increased risk of lymph node metastases (odds ratio (OR)=12.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.15 to 51.81; p<0.001). In multivariate analysis including age >65 years, peritoneal carcinomatosis, and ascites>500 mL, lymphovascular space invasion remained a significant risk factor for lymphatic metastases (OR=35.11, 95% CI 2.38 to 517.69; p=0.010). Ki67 ≥6% was associated with a higher risk of lymphovascular space invasion (OR=3.67, 95% CI 1.26 to 10.64; p=0.017). No significant correlation between Ki67 expression level and nodal metastases was found (OR=2.19, 95% CI 0.76 to 6.26; p=0.14). Neither presence of lymphovascular space invasion or nodal metastases was associated with a statistically poorer prognosis.

Conclusions We showed an association between lymphovascular space invasion, Ki67 expression, and risk of lymph node metastasis in primary low grade ovarian cancer. Further prospective trials evaluating lymphovascular space invasion and Ki-67 as predictors of lymph node metastasis are needed.

  • ovarian cancer

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Footnotes

  • Contributors Guarantor of the integrity of the study: JPG and JS. Study concepts: JPG and JS. Study design: JPG and JS. Definition of intellectual content: JPG, JS, and ET. Literature research: JPG and JG. Clinical studies: JPG, JG, M-ZM, ET, EIB, HP, and JS. Data acquisition: JPG, JG, RR, HP, M-ZM, EIB, and ET. Data analysis: JPG, JG, RR, and JS. Statistical analysis: JPG, RR, and JS. Manuscript preparation: JPG and JS. Manuscript editing: JPG and JS. Manuscript review: JPG, JS, and RR.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent for publication Not required.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

  • Data availability statement All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.