Prognostic relevance of c-MYC gene amplification and polysomy for chromosome 8 in suboptimally-resected, advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancers: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study

ObjectiveThe Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) examined the prognostic relevance of c-MYC amplification and polysomy 8 in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).MethodsWomen with suboptimally-resected, advanced stage EOC who participated in GOG-111, a multicenter randomized phase III trial of cyclophosphamide + cisplatin vs. paclitaxel + cisplatin, and who provided a tumor block through GOG-9404 were eligible. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes for c-MYC and the centromere of chromosome 8 (CEP8) was used to examine c-MYC amplification (≥ 2 copies c-MYC/CEP8) and polysomy 8 (≥ 4 CEP8 copies).Resultsc-MYC amplification, defined as ≥ 2 copies c-MYC/CEP8, was observed in 29% (28/97) of EOCs and levels were ranged from 2.0–3.3 copies of c-MYC/CEP8. c-MYC amplification was not associated with patient age, race, GOG performance status, stage, cell type, grade, measurable disease status following surgery, tumor response or disease status following platinum-based combination chemotherapy. Women with vs. without c-MYC amplification did not have an increased risk of disease progression (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.65–1.64; p = 0.884) or death (HR = 1.08; 95% CI = 0.68–1.72; p  = 0.745). c-MYC amplification was not an independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival (HR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.57–1.85; p = 0.922) or overall survival (HR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.56–1.80; p = 0.982). Similar insignificant results were obtained for c-MYC amplification categorized as ≥ 1.5 copies c-MYC/CEP8. Polysomy 8 was observed in 22 patients without c-MYC amplification and 3 with c-MYC amplification, and was associated with age and measurable disease status, but not other clinical covariates or outcomes.Conclusionsc-MYC amplification and polysomy 8 have limited predictive or prognostic value in suboptimally-resected, advanced stage EOC treated with platinum-based combination chemotherapy.