title: Epithelial-mesenchymal interconversions and the regulatory function of the ZEB family during the development and progression of ovarian cancer.
abstract: This study assessed the role of epithelial-mesenchymal interconversions and the regulatory functions of the ZEB family during the development and progression of ovarian cancer. E-cadherin, vimentin, ZEB1 and ZEB2 were analyzed using immunohistochemistry in a series of ovarian tissues that included normal tissue, benign tumors, borderline tumors, malignant tumors and metastatic lesions. The correlation between E-cadherin and ZEB was analyzed. We also analyzed the association between the expression of the four factors and clinicopathological features in ovarian cancer. The results revealed that E-cadherin was weakly positive in normal ovarian epithelium. Cytoplasmic E-cadherin was significantly increased in benign tumors (P<0.01) and further increased in borderline tumors and ovarian cancers. However, cytoplasmic E-cadherin was markedly reduced in metastatic lesions (P<0.01). Membranous E-cadherin was increased in benign tumors, but decreased progressively in borderline, malignant and metastatic tumor tissues (P<0.05). The expression profile of vimentin was opposite to that of membranous E-cadherin. Membranous E-cadherin was negatively correlated with ZEB2 expression (r=-0.514). Additionally, cytoplasmic E-cadherin, ZEB1 and ZEB2 were associated with the FIGO stage of ovarian cancer. ZEB1 was also correlated with ascitic fluid volume. Our results suggest that epithelial-mesenchymal interconversions are dynamically regulated during the development and progression of ovarian tumors. ZEB2, but not ZEB1, may regulate the expression of membranous E-cadherin during these processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chengcheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Pengqi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tianzhen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guangmei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: EMT; MET; ZEB1; ZEB2; ovarian cancer