Overexpression of EFEMP1 correlates with tumor progression and poor prognosis in human ovarian carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
This study was to explore the role of EFEMP1 in ovarian tumor progression and its relationship with prognosis of ovarian carcinoma.


METHODS
EFEMP1 mRNA and protein expressions in normal ovarian tissue, ovarian tumor, high invasive subclones and low invasive subclones were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and real time RT-PCR. Serum EFEMP1 levels in patients with ovarian tumor were measured by ELISA assay. To assess the angiogenic properties of EFEMP1, VEGF and tumor microvessel density were analyzed in ovarian carcinoma by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
EFEMP1 expression was up-regulated in ovarian carcinoma, positively correlated with MVD and VEGF, and its overexpression and high serum levels were significantly associated with high stage, low differentiation, lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis of ovarian cancer. EFEMP1 expression was also found to be over-expressed in the highly invasive subclones compared with the low invasive subclones.


CONCLUSIONS
EFEMP1 is a newly identified gene over-expressed in ovarian cancer, associated with poor clinicopathologic features and promotes angiogenesis. This study shows that EFEMP1 may serve as a new prognostic factor and a therapeutic target for patients with ovarian cancer in the future.
Department of Maternal and Child Health Care, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Jie
J
Chen
Deying
D
Wei
Yueran
Y
Zhao
Xiaoyan
X
Liu
Jie
J
Zhang
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018450:Disease Progression; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D055806:Microvessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D018952:Antigens, CD34; C119630:EFEMP1 protein, human; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A