High GMFG expression correlates with poor prognosis and promotes cell migration and invasion in epithelial ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical significance of GMFG, a novel ADF/cofilin superfamily protein, and investigate its role in cell migration and invasion in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).


METHODS
The expression of GMFG in EOC tissues and ovarian cancer cell lines was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting respectively. The data were statistically analyzed for the associations of GMFG expression with clinicopathologic parameters and survival. In vitro cell migration and invasion assays were performed to determine the role of GMFG in cell migratory behaviors. The effect of GMFG on reorganization of actin cytoskeleton was investigated by immunostaining.


RESULTS
GMFG was overexpressed in EOC. Up-regulated GMFG expression was closely correlated with advanced FIGO stage and chemoresistance of the disease. EOC patients with higher GMFG expression showed poorer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In vitro cellular assays revealed that GMFG promoted cell migration and invasion. GMFG expression altered actin cytoskeleton organization probably by interacting with the Arp2/3 complex.


CONCLUSIONS
GMFG expression independently predicts poorer prognosis in patients with EOC. Ectopic overexpression of GMFG contributes to the malignant biological behavior of ovarian cancer cells.
Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Peng
P
Zuo
Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Yuejiang
Y
Ma
Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Yongjie
Y
Huang
Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Feng
F
Ye
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Pei
P
Wang
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Xinyu
X
Wang
Department of Pathology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Caiyun
C
Zhou
Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Weiguo
W
Lu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China.
Beihua
B
Kong
Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. Electronic address: xiex@mail.hz.zj.cn.
Xing
X
Xie
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde; D020904:Glia Maturation Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011379:Prognosis; D016707:Tissue Fixation; D014162:Transfection
D000199:Actins; D020904:Glia Maturation Factor; C117487:glia maturation factor gamma; D005557:Formaldehyde
Actin cytoskeleton; Cell migration; GMFG; Ovarian cancer; Prognosis