Expression of ER?, its ER??3 Splice Variant and ?-SYNUCLEIN in Ovarian Cancer: A Pilot Study.
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ABSTRACT: AIMS: Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality of any gynaecological malignancy; this is due to rapid peritoneal spread of tumour cells and neovascularization. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this is critical to developing early diagnostic or treatment strategies. We devised a pilot study to examine the role of ?-SYNUCLEIN (?-SYN), oestrogen receptor (ER)?, and the splice variant ER??3. METHODOLOGY: With ethical approval, ovarian tissue was collected from patients (n=24) undergoing oopherectomy for non-ovarian pathology or primary surgery for suspected ovarian cancer. Quantitative gene expression analysis was employed for ?-SYN, ER?, and ER??3. To identify the in situ localization, immunofluorescence for ?-syn was carried out. RESULTS: Ovarian tumour tissue exhibited an elevated expression of ?-SYN and high-grade tumours had an elevated ER??3:ER? ratio compared with benign tissue. The majority of previous studies point to the ?-syn protein being present in epithelial cells of high-grade disease. Our study supports this, but additionally we conclusively identify its presence in the endothelial cells of vasculature surrounding low-grade disease; immunofluorescence was strongest in the apical cells surrounding the lumen. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate for the first time that there are readily-expressed levels of ?-SYN and ER??3 in normal ovarian tissue and ovarian tumours. In high-grade disease, ?-syn and an elevated ER??3:ER? ratio might confer metastatic potential to the tumourigenic cells and promote neoangiogenesis. Future in vitro studies might be necessary to delineate such a mechanism, which could potentially be the basis of early intervention.
SUBMITTER: Cheung KT
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3210401 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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