title: Expression of metastasis-related genes in human epithelial ovarian tumors.
abstract: We examined the expression level of several genes that regulate distinct steps of metastasis in 55 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, archival specimens of primary human ovarian carcinoma from patients undergoing curative surgery. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (VEGF/VPF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), E-cadherin, type IV collagenase, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9), and interleukin 8 (IL-8) was examined by a colorimetric in situ mRNA hybridization technique. The expression level of E-cadherin, MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF, and IL-8 mRNA correlated with disease stages. The ratio of type IV collagenase expression (mean of the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9) to E-cadherin expression (MMP:E-cadherin ratio) increased with increasing stage of disease (p<0.0001). Death rates significantly increased with high MMP:E-cadherin ratio (p=0.0005). Multivariate analysis of overall survival showed that the MMP:E-cadherin ratio was a significant independent prognostic factor, even after adjustment for known prognostic factors, such as histology, stage, and age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Corazon D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bucana
authors.forename: El Vio G
authors.initials: el VG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gershenson
authors.forename: Isaiah J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Fidler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D018450:Disease Progression; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D017931:DNA Primers; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008222:Lymphokines; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9