title: Hypoxic status in ovarian serous and mucinous tumors: relationship between histological characteristics and HIF-1alpha/GLUT-1 expression.
abstract: METHODS
  We analyzed the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) by immunohistochemistry in ovarian serous and mucinous tumors from the point view of the histological characteristics and acquisition of malignancy. A total of 102 ovarian tumors were examined, composed of 31 adenomas (serous 17 and mucinous 14), 32 borderline tumors (serous 13 and mucinous 19), and 39 adenocarcinomas (serous 21 and mucinous 18).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall positive ratios were as follows: HIF-1alpha, 74% of adenomas, 91% of borderline tumors, and 100% of adenocarcinomas; and GLUT-1, 68% of adenomas, 95% of borderline tumors, and 100% of adenocarcinomas. Comparing serous tumors and mucinous tumors, there was no significant difference in the positive ratios of HIF-1alpha and GLUT-1 of adenomas, borderline tumors, and adenocarcinomas. However, both markers were more strongly expressed in serous adenocarcinomas (HIF-1alpha, 3 + 100%; GLUT-1, 3+76%) than in mucinous adenocarcinomas (HIF-1alpha, 3 + 61%; GLUT-1, 3 + 28%). The results of immunoblotting and mRNA expression level analyses corresponded with those of immunohistochemical expression profiles. DNA binding assay also demonstrated that HIF-1 is more commonly activated in serous adenocarcinomas than in mucinous adenocarcinomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIF-1alpha and GLUT-1 expressions seemed to be coordinated to adapt ovarian tumor cells into hypoxic conditions in close association with the acquisition of malignancy. We consider that the relatively strong expression of both markers in serous tumors compared with mucinous tumors is related to the difference in their histological characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: R Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Osamura
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirasawa
authors.forename: Toshinari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018297:Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger