title: ASPM and microcephalin expression in epithelial ovarian cancer correlates with tumour grade and survival.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinico-pathological and molecular heterogeneity of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) complicates its early diagnosis and successful treatment. Highly aneuploid tumours and the presence of ascitic fluids are hallmarks of EOC. Two microcephaly-associated proteins, abnormal spindle-like microcephaly-associated protein (ASPM) and microcephalin, are involved in mitosis and DNA damage repair. Their expression is deregulated at the RNA level in EOC. Here, ASPM and microcephalin protein expression in primary cultures established from the ascites of patients with EOC was determined and correlated with clinical data to assess their suitability as biomarkers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five established ovarian cancer cell lines, cells derived from two benign ovarian ascites samples and 40 primary cultures of EOC derived from ovarian ascites samples were analysed by protein slot blotting and/or immunofluorescence to determine ASPM and microcephalin protein levels and their cellular localisation. Results were correlated with clinico-pathological data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant correlation was identified for ASPM localisation and tumour grade, with high levels of cytoplasmic ASPM correlating with grade 1 tumours. Conversely, cytoplasmic microcephalin was only identified in high-grade tumours. Furthermore, low levels of nuclear microcephalin correlated with reduced patient survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that ASPM and microcephalin have the potential to be biomarkers in ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Section of Ophthalmology and Neurosciences, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Welcome Trust Brenner Building, St James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brüning-Richardson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alsiary
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cairns
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hutson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: C467202:ASPM protein, human; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C460645:MCPH1 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins