title: Expression of Ets-1, Ang-2 and maspin in ovarian cancer and their role in tumor angiogenesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various angiogenic regulators are involved in angiogenesis cascade. Transcription factor Ets-1 plays important role in angiogenesis, remodeling of extracellular matrix, and tumor metastasis. Ets-1 target genes involved in various stages of new blood vessel formation include angiopoietin, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the protease inhibitor maspin.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detect the expression of Ets-1, angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and maspin in ovarian tumor and analyzed the relationship between the expression of these proteins and the clinical manifestation of ovarian cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ets-1 expression was much stronger in ovarian cancer compared to benign tumors, but had no significant correlation with other pathological parameters of ovarian cancer. However, Ang-2 and maspin expression had no obvious correlation with pathological parameters of ovarian cancer. Ets-1 had a positive correlation with Ang-2 which showed their close relationship in angiogenesis. Although microvessel density (MVD) value had no significant correlation with the expression of Ets-1, Ang-2 or maspin, strong nuclear expression of maspin appeared to be correlated with high grade and MVD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of Ets-1, Ang2 and maspin showed close relationship with angiogenesis in ovarian cancer and expression of maspin appeared to be correlated with high grade and MVD. The mechanisms underlying the cross-talk of the three factors need further investigations.
authors: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 1st affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China.
authors: Zijing
authors: Z
authors: Lin
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Yuhui
authors: Y
authors: Sun
authors: Xiuping
authors: X
authors: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D015843:Serpins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D042702:Angiopoietin-2; C494041:ETS1 protein, human; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; C085344:SERPIN-B5; D015843:Serpins