ABSTRACT We have reported that gains of chromosomal 1q21-q22 on which MUC1 locates are related to platinum-resistance of ovarian cancer. Thus, we examined MUC1 expression immunohistochemically to elucidate whether MUC1 is associated with platinum-resistance of ovarian cancer and its prognosis. MUC1 expression was immunohistochemically examined in 87 ovarian cancer patients. To quantify degree of the staining, the percentage of positively stained cells was measured for each specimen. Staining rates in serous cystadeno-carcinoma and clear cell adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than those in endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Staining rates of tumors in advanced stage and large residual tumor after surgery were significantly than those in early stage and with small residual tumor. Tumors with poor response to chemotherapy showed significantly higher staining rate than those with good response. Subsequently, survival rate of patients with more than 30% staining rate of MUC1 was significantly lower than that with less than 30% staining rate. These preliminary results suggest that more aggressive tumors have higher expression of MUC1 and the high expression can predict platinum-resistance and the prognosis.
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