title: Molecular portraits of heterogeneity related to cancer stem cells in human ovarian cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate molecular portraits of heterogeneity related to cancer stem cells (CSCs) in human ovarian cancer and to access the value in diagnosis and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty specimens were collected in both cytoreductive and re-cytoreductive surgeries of 20 serous papillary ovarian adenocarcinoma cases. Expression density and distribution of 3 CSC markers (CD44, CD133, and CD117) and 3 stemness proteins (Bmi1, Nestin, and Oct3/4) were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Pairwise comparisons were performed among their expression in primary, metastasis, and relapsing tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some molecules presented different localization in 1 tissue, like CD133 and CD117, and all but Oct3/4 expressed differentially in different specimens of 1 case. Compared to primary or metastatic cancers, recurrent cancers show higher expression of CD133, CD117, and Bmi1, as well as higher histological grades.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicated that there exist extratumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity in ovarian epithelial cancers related to CSCs. And this is worth further studying.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing; †Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Huaxi Medical University, Chengdu; ‡Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University; and §Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jianfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: Lijing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Quancai
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Jiaxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Keng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D064231:Nestin / Q000378:metabolism; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C069077:BMI1 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C577484:NES protein, human; D064231:Nestin; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1