Expression of angiogenesis-related genes in ovarian carcinoma--a clinicopathologic study.
Angiogenic factors play a role in tumor growth and spread. The object of this study was to analyze the correlation between mRNA expression of angiogenesis-related genes and disease outcome in advanced-stage ovarian carcinomas. Sections from 66 primary ovarian carcinomas and metastatic lesions from 41 patients diagnosed with advanced stage ovarian carcinoma (FIGO stages III-IV) were evaluated for expression of basic fibroblast factor (bFGF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) using mRNA In Situ Hybridization (ISH). Patients were divided in two groups based on disease outcome. Long-term survivors (17 patients) and short-term survivors (24 patients) were defined using a double cut-off of 36 months for disease-free survival (DFS) and 60 months for overall survival (OS). Mean follow-up period was 70 months. The mean values for DFS and OS were 116 and 133 months for long-term survivors, as compared to 3 and 21 months for short-term survivors, respectively. Expression of bFGF mRNA, most often intense, was detected in tumor and stromal cells in the majority of cases. Weak expression of IL-8 mRNA was detected in both cell compartments, while VEGF mRNA expression was limited to few cases. Primary tumors displayed higher bFGF and IL-8 mRNA expression. However, these differences did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05). bFGF, IL-8 and VEGF mRNA expression in both tumor and stromal cells was comparable in tumors of long-term and short-term survivors, and showed no correlation with disease outcome in survival analysis (P > 0.05). bFGF is the major angiogenic factor expressed in ovarian carcinoma at the mRNA level. mRNA expression of VEGF, bFGF, and IL-8 does not appear to be a predictor of disease outcome in advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma.
Davidson
B
B
Department of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Montebello, Oslo.
Goldberg
I
I
Kopolovic
J
J
Gotlieb
W H
WH
Givant-Horwitz
V
V
Nesland
J M
JM
Berner
A
A
Ben-Baruch
G
G
Bryne
M
M
Reich
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D017931:DNA Primers; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2