The p53 gene has been investigated for its role in epithelial ovarian cancer but 
data collected until now are contradictory. The evidence that p53 belongs with 
p63 and p73 to a family of transcription factors re-opened interest in this gene 
family. Here, we used quantitative real time RT-PCR to determine expression 
levels of TAp53, TAp73 and their N-terminal splice variants in a cohort of 169 
ovarian cancer patients with stage I and stage III disease. The TAp73 levels in 
stage III biopsies differed by 100-fold depending on the p53 status and overall 
survival appears to be significantly related to DeltaNp73 expression. 
Kaplan-Meyer analyses did not suggest a correlation between overall survival and 
levels of TAp73, DeltaNp73 or the DeltaNp73/TAp73 ratio. In conclusion, these 
data suggest that at least in our patient cohort p53 and p73 expression levels 
are not correlated to malignant progression of ovarian cancer. They might, 
however, play a role in tumour initiation.