Overexpression of PIWI proteins in human stage III epithelial ovarian cancer with lymph node metastasis.
BACKGROUND
PIWI proteins belong to the Argonaute family. The human PIWI subfamily genes encode four PIWI (also known as PIWI-like) proteins: PIWIL1, PIWIL2, PIWIL3, and PIWIL4. The dysregulated expression of PIWI proteins appears to be associated with tumorigenesis.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression of PIWI proteins in primary and metastatic tumors from patients with stage III epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), evaluate the diagnostic value of PIWI in various tissues, and analyze the characteristics of each PIWI protein associated with metastasis.


METHODS
A total of 20 patients with stage III EOC were retrieved for the present study. Various tissues from the primary tumor, adjacent normal tissue, peritoneal metastasis, and lymph node with or without metastasis were examined. PIWI proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarray and analyzed.


RESULTS
PIWIL1, PIWIL2, PlWlL3, and PIWIL4 were expressed in EOC. By comparison with the adjacent normal tissues, the expression of four PIWI proteins was significantly enhanced in the primary tumor and metastatic tissues (P< 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
PIWI proteins are upregulated in EOC and associated with metastasis. These proteins may be useful as diagnostic biomarkers for EOC. The function of PIWI proteins in EOC with tumor metastasis will need to be further explored.
Department of Gynecology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Chao
C
Chen
Department of Gynecology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jianhua
J
Liu
Center Laboratory, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Guoxiong
G
Xu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C421088:PIWIL1 protein, human; C486868:PIWIL2 protein, human; C556794:PIWIL3 protein, human; C556795:PIWIL4 protein, human; D011506:Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins
PIWI protein; epithelial ovarian cancer; metastasis