title: Expression of extracellular matrix proteins in ovarian serous tumors.
abstract: The aims of this study were to perform a comprehensive expression analysis of the genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins and to investigate the expression pattern in one of these proteins, syndecan 1, in normal ovarian epithelium as well as benign and malignant ovarian serous tumors. Gene expression of 16 different extracellular matrix proteins was analyzed in ovarian serous tumors based on serial analysis of gene expression database. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to validate the serial analysis of gene expression result from each gene. As compared with normal ovarian surface epithelium, we found overexpression of syndecan 1, collagen type IV alpha 2, elastin microfibril interfase located protein 1, and laminin 5 in ovarian serous carcinomas. Syndecan 1 was selected for further study as it has not been well characterized in ovarian cancer and the syndecan 1 antibody was available for immunohistochemistry. Using a syndecan 1-specific monoclonal antibody, we demonstrated that syndecan 1 was expressed in 30.4% of high-grade serous carcinomas, 29.7% of low-grade carcinomas and serous borderline tumors, but none of benign serous cystadenomas and ovarian surface epithelium. Although both high-grade and low-grade serous carcinomas had a similar percentage of syndecan 1-positive cases, the immunointensity in high-grade carcinoma was significantly higher than that in low-grade carcinomas and serous borderline tumors (P = 0.007). In summary, ovarian carcinomas exhibit up-regulated expression of several extracellular matrix proteins, and syndecan 1 represents a novel tumor-associated marker in ovarian serous carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA.
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salani
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Neuberger
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kurman
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Bristow
authors.forename: Hsueh-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Tian-Li
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ie-Ming
authors.initials: IeM
authors.lastname: Shih
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018293:Cystadenoma, Serous / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018297:Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D053668:Syndecan-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D007797:Laminin; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053668:Syndecan-1; C030340:elastin microfibril interface located protein