Comparative proteome analysis of human epithelial ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
Epithelial ovarian cancer is a devastating disease associated with low survival prognosis mainly because of the lack of early detection markers and the asymptomatic nature of the cancer until late stage. Using two complementary proteomics approaches, a differential protein expression profile was carried out between low and highly transformed epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines which realistically mimic the phenotypic changes observed during evolution of a tumour metastasis. This investigation was aimed at a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying differentiation, proliferation and neoplastic progression of ovarian cancer.


RESULTS
The quantitative profiling of epithelial ovarian cancer model cell lines TOV-81D and TOV-112D generated using iTRAQ analysis and two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry revealed some proteins with altered expression levels. Several of these proteins have been the object of interest in cancer research but others were unrecognized as differentially expressed in a context of ovarian cancer. Among these, series of proteins involved in transcriptional activity, cellular metabolism, cell adhesion or motility and cytoskeleton organization were identified, suggesting their possible role in the emergence of oncogenic pathways leading to aggressive cellular behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
The differential protein expression profile generated by the two proteomics approaches combined to complementary characterizations studies will open the way to more exhaustive and systematic representation of the disease and will provide valuable information that may be helpful to uncover the molecular mechanisms related to epithelial ovarian cancer.
Gagné
Jean-Philippe
JP
Health and Environment Unit, Laval University Medical Research Center, CHUQ, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Ste-Foy, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada . guy.poirier@crchul.ulaval.ca.
Ethier
Chantal
C
Gagné
Pierre
P
Mercier
Geneviève
G
Bonicalzi
Marie-Eve
ME
Mes-Masson
Anne-Marie
AM
Droit
Arnaud
A
Winstall
Eric
E
Isabelle
Maxim
M
Poirier
Guy G
GG