Association of overexpression of hexokinase II with chemoresistance in epithelial ovarian cancer

This aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between hexokinase II expression and chemoresistance in epithelial ovarian cancer. One hundred and eleven paraffin-embedded specimens from patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were immunohistochemically stained for hexokinase II. Subsequently, the association between hexokinase II overexpression and clinicopathologic characteristics including chemoresistance was assessed. Survival analyses were also performed for evaluating the prognostic value of hexokinase II overexpression. Tumor recurrence within 6 months after termination of first-line chemotherapy was considered to indicate chemoresistance. Hexokinase II overexpression was associated with chemoresistance (p = 0.029) and was an independent risk factor for chemoresistance [odds ratio (OR) 3.37; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.07-10.62; p = 0.038] along with non-optimal debulking surgery (OR 4.93; 95 % CI 1.43-16.98; p = 0.011). Hexokinase II overexpression was significantly associated with decreased progression-free survival (p = 0.002) and showed a similar trend for overall survival (p = 0.101). Cox regression analysis revealed that hexokinase II overexpression was an independent prognostic factor for early recurrence (hazard ratio 2.63; 95 % CI 1.40-4.92; p = 0.002). Our findings suggest that hexokinase II overexpression is associated with short progression-free survival, which could be associated with chemoresistance in epithelial ovarian cancer.