Metallothionein expression in ovarian cancer in relation to histopathological parameters and molecular markers of prognosis

Metallothioneins (MTs) and glutathione constitute the major fractions of intracellular thiol factors. Abundant nucleophilic sulfhydryl groups can interact with many electrophilic substances, including several anti-neoplastic agents, participate in controlling intracellular redox potential, and act as scavengers of reactive oxygen species. In the present study, we examined the relation of MTs (alone and in combination with glutathione) to histopathological parameters and survival time of ovarian cancer patients. Expression of the major MT isoforms (MT-1 and MT-2) was determined by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 189 patients, 151 suffering from primary epitheli…