title: Role of beta-catenin/T-cell factor-regulated genes in ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinomas.
abstract: In various cancers, inactivating mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli or Axin tumor suppressor proteins or activating mutations in beta-catenin's amino-terminal domain elevate beta-catenin levels, resulting in marked effects on T-cell factor (TCF)-regulated transcription. Several candidate beta-catenin/TCF-regulated genes in cancer have been proposed. Expression of a few of these genes has been studied in primary human cancers, but most studies have focused on colon cancers and not on other cancer types that harbor mutational defects in adenomatous polyposis coli, AXIN, or beta-catenin. Mutations leading to beta-catenin deregulation are found in nearly half of ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinomas (OEAs). We report here on the expression of 6 candidate beta-catenin/TCF-regulated genes in a panel of 44 primary OEAs, more than a third of which carry demonstrable defects in beta-catenin regulation. Using quantitative assays of gene expression, we found significantly elevated expression of the MMP-7, CCND1 (Cyclin D1), CX43 (Connexin 43), PPAR-delta, and ITF2 genes in OEAs with deregulated beta-catenin. This correlation was not observed for c-myc, another putative beta-catenin/TCF-regulated gene. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed that overexpression of cyclin D1 and MMP-7 was highly associated with nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and mutational defects of the Wnt/beta-catenin/TCF-signaling pathway. Our findings indicate cyclin D1, MMP-7, connexin 43, PPAR-delta, and ITF-2, likely play important roles in the pathogenesis of those OEAs that manifest defects in beta-catenin regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0638, USA.
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Darrah
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Frank T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Kolligs
authors.forename: Marvin T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nieman
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Fearon
authors.forename: Kathleen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051176:beta Catenin; D019938:Cyclin D1; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7