The clinicopathological relevance for the expression of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine in epithelial ovarian tumors. |
Sang Il Park, Eui Don Lee, Dong Soo Suh, Ki Hyung Kim, Man Soo Yoon |
1Department of Gynecology Oncology, Dongnam Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (DIRAMS) Cancer Center, Busan, Korea. 2Department of Gynecology Oncology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea. msyoon@pusan.ac.kr |
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Abstract |
OBJECTIVE Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is an extracellular matrix-associated protein implicated in the modulation of cell adhesion, migration, cell cycle regulation, and angiogenesis. It has been associated with the progression or suppression of various cancers. This study was aimed at correlating SPARC protein expression with tumor progression and clinicopathological features in ovarian epithelial tumors. METHODS: Epithelial ovarian cancer (n=69), borderline tumor (n=18), benign tumor (n=10) and normal ovary tissues were obtained after operation. SPARC protein expression was examined using immunohistochemistry. With a retrospective review, patients' characteristics and slide samples were analyzed. RESULTS: Cytoplasmic SPARC immunoreactivity was observed in stromal cells in nearly all cases of normal ovary, benign and borderline tumors (100%, 94.7%, and 100%). In contrast, SPARC was detected in the stroma of 63.8% (44/69) and the score of immunoreactivity was significantly reduced in malignant tumors (P <0.001). SPARC expression in ovarian epithelial cancers was significantly associated with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage. However, it was not correlated with other clinicopathologic parameters, including histologic type, tumor grade, nuclear grade, mitosis, tumor size, local recurrence, distant metastasis, and survival. CONCLUSION: This study showed that reduction of SPARC expression in ovarian epithelial tumors is significantly correlated with tumor invasiveness and SPARC may act as tumor suppressor. |
Key Words:
Epithelial ovarian tumor, Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine |
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