title: SDF-1alpha/CXCL12 and dendritic cells in ovarian cancer microenvironment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the a-chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/CXCL12 levels in the peritoneal fluid (PF) and plasma of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC, n=101), serous cyst (n=34) or normal controls (n=20). SDF-1alpha concentrations were correlated to myeloid (M) and lymphoid (L) dendritic cells (DC).
  
  
  METHODS
  SDF-1alpha levels were analysed using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). DC were evaluated by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SDF-1alpha concentrations in peritoneal fluid were elevated in the EOC patients in comparison to the patients with serous cyst (the reference group). The PF SDF-1alpha levels were significantly higher in FIGO III and IV patients than in FIGO stage I. There were no significant differences in the PF SDF-1alpha levels with respect to tumor grade or histology Additionally there were no significant differences in the plasma SDF-1alpha levels in EOC patients in comparison with the reference and control groups. The SDF-1alpha levels in the plasma of FIGO stage III patients were significantly higher than that of stage I. Patients with undifferentiated carcinoma had significantly higher plasma SDF-1alpha levels than patients with serous cystadenocarcinoma. No significant differences were noted in the plasma SDF-1alpha levels within different tumor grades. There was no significant correlation between PF and plasma SDF-1alpha levels and the percentage of myeloid and lymphoid DC in the PB and PF of EOC patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SDF-1alpha production in EOC patients may depend on the clinical stage of the tumor. Increased levels of SDF-1alpha and lymphoid DC in the PF of EOC patients may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncological Gynaecology and Gynaecology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland. iwonawertel@wp.pl
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wertel
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Polak
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tarkowski
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotarska
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12