title: Differential expression of p73 splice variants and protein in benign and malignant ovarian tumours.
abstract: The p73 gene encodes a protein with substantial structural and functional similarities to the tumour-suppressor p53. Alternative splicing of p73 mRNA leads to expression of 6 known RNA species and proteins (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta). We analysed the expression of these splice variants in ovarian adenocarcinoma by RT-PCR followed by detection of amplicons with the Southern technique and by immunoblot in 32 malignant and benign epithelial ovarian tumour specimens and 3 ovarian adenocarcinoma cell lines (A2780, 2008, OVCAR-3). p73alpha mRNA was expressed in all 17 ovarian cancer specimens, and 14 of 17 expressed at least 3 splice variants. In contrast, a different expression pattern was present in the ovarian adenomas: p73alpha was detected in 6 of 12 benign tumours, and only 1 adenoma expressed 3 splice variants. p73 protein was expressed in 9 of 16 ovarian cancer specimens, in all cell lines and in 1 of 3 borderline tumours. In contrast, none of 9 ovarian adenomas expressed detectable amounts of p73 protein. Expression of p73 mRNA and protein was not correlated with FIGO stage and histological grade, but we observed a significant correlation with over-expression of p53 protein. In summary, epithelial ovarian cancers express a more complex p73 isoform pattern and higher levels of p73 mRNA and protein than ovarian adenomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Inselspital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zwahlen
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Tschan
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Grob
authors.forename: U R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haenggi
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Altermatt
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cajot
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tobler
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fey
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aebi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C000606460:TP73 protein, human; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins