Epithelial ovarian cancer is composed of a diverse group of
tumors that can be derived from the fallopian tube, endometrium, or ovary. In this study, we explored the expression levels of
LATS family members in ovarian
tumors using normal ovaries, fallopian tubes, and endometrium as controls. Immunohistochemistry studies of LATS1, LATS2, Pax8, and
calretinin were performed on normal ovary, fallopian tube, normal endometrium, and ovarian
tumor sections. Statistical analyses were conducted using the χ(2) test, Fisher exact test, or Kruskal-Wallis H test. Patient survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. LATS1 was expressed in normal ovarian epithelia, endometrium, and fallopian tubes, whereas LATS2 expression was observed in the normal fallopian tubes and endometrium. High expressions of LATS1 and LATS2 in
serous cystadenomas gradually decreased in borderline
cystadenomas and
carcinomas, respectively. However, an opposite expression pattern was observed in mucinous
tumors. Low expressions of LATS1 and LATS2 were also detected in clear cell
carcinoma. Both LATS1 and LATS2 expression levels significantly correlated with recurrence and stage; LATS1 levels were also related with
tumor grades in serous
carcinoma. However, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that high expression of LATS1 was associated with better prognosis in patients with serous
carcinoma. Both LATS1 and LATS2 were not related with the clinical variables in mucinous and clear cell
carcinoma. LATS1 expression levels might be a valuable survival
indicator in ovarian serous
carcinoma.