Clinicopathologic significance of claudin-6, occludin, and matrix metalloproteinases -2 expression in ovarian carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Tight junctions (TJs) are mainly composed of claudins, occludin, and tight junction adhesion molecules (JAM). The invasive and metastatic phenotype of highly invasive cancer cells has been related to abnormal structure and function of TJs, and with expression of activated matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The relevance of these mechanisms responsible for the invasion and metastasis of ovarian carcinoma is unclear. Similarly, it is not known if the expression of claudin-6, occludin and MMP2 is related with the clinical properties of these tumors.


METHODS
Expression of claudin-6, occludin, and MMP2 was detected in samples of human ovarian cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry and correlated with the clinical properties of the tumors.


RESULTS
The positive expression rates of claudin-6 and MMP-2 were higher in ovarian papillary serous carcinomas than n ovarian serous adenomas (P < 0.05). There were no differences in the expression of occludin (P > 0.05). The expression of claudin-6 and occludin in ovarian cancer was not correlated with patient age, pathological grade, clinical stage, and metastasis (P > 0.05). MMP-2 expression was enhanced with increased clinical stage and metastasis (P < 0.05), but was unrelated to patient age or tumor grade (P > 0.05). There were no apparent correlations between expression of claudin-6, occludin and MMP-2 in ovarian cancer tissue (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest, for the first time, that the claudin-6 and MMP-2 are up-regulated in ovarian papillary serous carcinomas, MMP-2 expression was enhanced with increased clinical stage and metastasis. Claudin-6 and MMP-2 may play a positive role in the invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer.
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Liping
L
Wang
Xiangshu
X
Jin
Dongjing
D
Lin
Zhijing
Z
Liu
Xiaowei
X
Zhang
Yan
Y
Lu
Yuanyuan
Y
Liu
Min
M
Wang
Minlan
M
Yang
Jiuxia
J
Li
The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China. quancs11@163.com.
Chengshi
C
Quan
D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D057167:Claudins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D062793:Occludin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D057167:Claudins; D062793:Occludin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C122101:claudin 6