Expression ofSDF-1andCXCR4transcript variants andCXCR7in epithelial ovarian cancer.
Chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR7, have been implicated in epithelial ovarian cancer progression and metastasis. However, limited data are available on the expression levels ofSDF-1andCXCR4variants andCXCR7in human epithelial ovarian cancer. The present study aimed to characterize the expression pattern and levels ofSDF-1,CXCR4andCXCR7in normal human ovaries and epithelial ovarian cancer. The expression ofSDF-1andCXCR4transcript variants and CXCR7 was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Plasma SDF-1α levels were determined by commercially available EIA kits and cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) levels were quantified by automated microparticle enzyme immunosorbent assay. High expression levels ofSDF-1transcript variant 1 were identified in ovarian cancer and control ovaries. By contrast, in both groups the expression levels ofSDF-1transcript variants 3 and 4 were extremely low. Furthermore,SDF-1variant 1 levels were notably higher in epithelial ovarian cancer than in control ovaries, while data for the remaining transcripts were similar in both groups.CXCR4transcript variant 2 andCXCR7expression levels in normal and neoplastic ovaries were similar. In both groups,CXCR4transcript variant 2 was not detected. Plasma SDF-1α levels were notably higher in females with epithelial ovarian cancer than in the control ovaries. Elevated levels of blood SDF-1α were found prior to surgery, 6 days after surgery and following completion of the first chemotherapy course. These increases were independent of the type of epithelial ovarian cancer. Our results suggest that the expression ofSDF-1and the genes controlling alternative splicing are elevated in epithelial ovarian cancer, leading to an increased formation ofSDF-1variant 1. Elevated plasma SDF-1α levels in epithelial ovarian cancer patients are not associated with the presence of tumors and/or metastases, however reflect a general response to the disease.
Department of Oncology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań 60-781, Poland.
Karolina
K
Jaszczynska-Nowinka
Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań 60-781, Poland.
Marcin
M
Rucinski
Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań 60-781, Poland.
Agnieszka
A
Ziolkowska
Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań 60-781, Poland.
Anna
A
Markowska
Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań 60-781, Poland.
Ludwik K
LK
Malendowicz
CXCR4; CXCR7; SDF-1; epithelial ovarian cancer; plasma CA 125; plasma SDF-1α; transcript variants