The IgLON family in epithelial ovarian cancer: expression profiles and clinicopathologic correlates.
OBJECTIVE
The IgLON family of cell adhesion molecules, comprising OPCML, HNT, LSAMP, and NEGR1, has recently been linked to cancer, through two of its members being proposed as tumor suppressors. We examined the expression profile of the family in human sporadic epithelial ovarian cancer and the normal ovary.


METHODS
We determined the expression level of each IgLON in a panel comprising 57 tumor and 11 normal ovarian samples by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR. The results were statistically tested for associations with clinicopathologic variables.


RESULTS
OPCML, LSAMP and NEGR1 exhibited reduced expression in the tumor samples relative to the normal samples, whereas HNT expression was elevated. Statistically significant changes were specific to histologic type. The expression levels of individual IgLONs were correlated, the most significant finding being a positive correlation between LSAMP and NEGR1. LSAMP expression was also negatively correlated with overall survival and was found to be a negative predictor of outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of the IgLON family is altered in sporadic epithelial ovarian tumors in comparison to the normal ovary. In our small but representative cohort of patients, we have found significant correlations and associations in expression and clinicopathology that suggest a wider role of the family in ovarian cancer.
Ntougkos
Evangelos
E
Cancer Research UK Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Rush
Robert
R
Scott
Diane
D
Frankenberg
Tobias
T
Gabra
Hani
H
Smyth
John F
JF
Sellar
Grant C
GC
D000328:Adult; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics*; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016019:Survival Analysis
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C485559:NEGR1 protein, human; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; C059785:OPCML protein, human; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C095362:limbic system-associated membrane protein; C092530:neurotrimin