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Differential Gene Expression in Ovarian Carcinoma: Identification of Potential Biomarkers

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9440(10)63306-8Get rights and content

Ovarian cancer remains the fifth leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States. In this study, the gene expression of 20 ovarian carcinomas, 17 ovarian carcinomas metastatic to the omentum, and 50 normal ovaries was determined by Gene Logic Inc. using Affymetrix GeneChip HU_95 arrays containing ∼12,000 known genes. Differences in gene expression were quantified as fold changes in gene expression in ovarian carcinomas compared to normal ovaries and ovarian carcinoma metastases. Genes up-regulated in ovarian carcinoma tissue samples compared to more than 300 other normal and diseased tissue samples were identified. Seven genes were selected for further screening by immunohistochemistry to determine the presence and localization of the proteins. These seven genes were: the β8 integrin subunit, bone morphogenetic protein-7, claudin-4, collagen type IX α2, cellular retinoic acid binding protein-1, forkhead box J1, and S100 calcium-binding protein A1. Statistical analyses showed that the β8 integrin subunit, claudin-4, and S100A1 provided the best distinction between ovarian carcinoma and normal ovary tissues, and may serve as the best candidate tumor markers among the seven genes studied. These results suggest that further exploration into other up-regulated genes may identify novel diagnostic, therapeutic, and/or prognostic biomarkers in ovarian carcinoma.

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Supported by grants from the Department of the Army (DA/DAMD17-99-1-9564), the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (CA0913825), the Minnesota Medical Foundation, and the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance.

The content of the information presented in this manuscript does not necessarily reflect the position of the United States Government.

This work was presented, in part, at the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research “Fourth Biennial Ovarian Carcinoma Research Symposium: Integration of Research and Treatment” held September 19 to 20, 2002, in Seattle, WA. Portions of this manuscript were submitted as a thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (K.H.) and a Master of Science joint degree in Law, Health, and the Life Sciences (J.J.T).

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