Expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ and cyclo-oxygenase 2 in primary and recurrent ovarian carcinoma

Aim: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in several types of cancer. In ovarian carcinomas, limited and conflicting data on PPARc protein expression have been reported. Methods: The immunoexpression of PPAR gamma and its putative target cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX2) was investigated in tumour tissues from 80 patients with primary and corresponding recurrent ovarian serous carcinomas after conventional platinum-based chemotherapy. Results: PPARc expression was observed in 29% of primary and recurrent carcinomas. In the recurrent tumours, PPARc expression inversely correlated with COX2 overexpression in both chemosensitive (p = 0.02) and chemoresistant (p = 0.04) carcinomas. Conclusions: The data indicate that PPARc may represent a potential target for second-line treatment in ovarian cancers.