title: Expression of c-Src and phospho-Src in epithelial ovarian carcinoma.
abstract: Abnormal c-Src expression and activation has been observed in a number of tumors. To determine the therapeutic potential of Src inhibitors for ovarian cancer patients, this study aimed to explore the expression patterns of c-Src and phospho-Src in epithelial ovarian cancer. A total of 82 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from January 1999 to December 2005 were enrolled along with 25 patients with benign ovarian lesions; 20 normal ovarian tissues served as controls. Expression of c-Src and phospho-Src (Tyr416) was examined using immunohistochemistry. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier curves. As compared to the control group, a significantly greater proportion of ovarian cancer tissues were positive for c-Src and phospho-Src expression (P < 0.001). c-Src expression was associated with age, while phospho-Src expression was significantly associated with age, FIGO stage, histology grade, and residual tumor size after surgery (all P < 0.05). The mean survival time was associated with phospho-Src expression, but not with c-Src expression. The mean survival times of patients with phospho-Src-positive tumors were significantly greater than those with phospho-Src-negative tumors (87.4 months, 95 % CI = 74.3-100.5 months and 91.5 months, 95 % CI = 84.7-98.2 months, respectively; P = 0.013). The increased c-Src expression and activation in epithelial ovarian cancer suggests that ovarian cancer patients may benefit from tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as Dasatinib. Activation of c-Src through phosphorylation at Tyr416 may play a role in the early stages of ovarian cancer development, and evaluation of its expression may be a useful prognostic marker of epithelial ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yong-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Man-Man
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jun-Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000081247:CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D015996:Survival Rate; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010750:Phosphoproteins; D014443:Tyrosine; D000081247:CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase; D019061:src-Family Kinases; C000631346:CSK protein, human