17β Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 12 (HSD17B12) is a marker of poor prognosis in ovarian carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isoform 12 (HSD17B12) overexpression is associated with poor clinical outcome in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Here, we evaluated HSD17B12 overexpression and its activity in ovarian carcinoma (OvCa) to determine its role in the growth and progression of this tumor.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical analysis of HSD17B12 expression was performed in 100 tissue samples of untreated OvCa and was correlated with clinicopathologic characteristics and patient outcome. In A2780 OvCa cell line expressing HSD17B12, siRNA knockdown of the enzyme was performed, and its effects on tumor cell growth and Annexin V binding were determined.


RESULTS
HSD17B12 expression was detected in all tumor samples, but the staining intensity was variable. Normal ovarian epithelium was negative. Patients with tumor showing weak/moderate expression of HSD17B12 had a better overall survival than those with strongly positive tumors (p<0.001). The time to first recurrence was longer for patients with tumors with heterogeneous staining relative to patients with tumors that were uniformly positive (p<0.001). Upon silencing of HSD17B12 in tumor cells, their growth was inhibited (p<0.005) and apoptosis was increased (p<0.05). Arachidonic acid but not estradiol reversed the growth inhibition mediated by HSD17B12 knockdown.


CONCLUSIONS
HSD17B12 overexpression is shown to be a marker of poor survival in patients with OvCa. Expression in the tumor and function of this enzyme facilitates OvCa progression.
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
Marta
M
Szajnik
Miroslaw J
MJ
Szczepanski
Esther
E
Elishaev
Carmen
C
Visus
Diana
D
Lenzner
Maciej
M
Zabel
Marta
M
Glura
Albert B
AB
DeLeo
Theresa L
TL
Whiteside
D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C476565:17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3