Epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the expression and potential clinical role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related factors in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCT). Protein expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, P-cadherin, Zeb1, HMGA2, and vimentin by immunohistochemistry was analyzed in 42 MOGCT from patients treated in Norway during the period 1981-2001. Expression was analyzed for association with clinicopathologic parameters. E-cadherin (p = 0.016) and HMGA2 (p = 0.002) expression was significantly higher in immature teratomas and yolk sac tumors compared with dysgerminomas. Vimentin (p < 0.001) and Zeb1 (p = 0.029) staining was significantly higher in immature teratomas compared with yolk sac tumors and dysgerminomas, whereas no significant differences were observed for N-cadherin and P-cadherin. EMT-associated markers were not significantly related to clinicopathologic parameters including age, tumor diameter, and FIGO stage. In conclusion, based on this limited series, EMT-associated markers are not associated with clinical parameters in MOGCT, in contrast to ovarian carcinoma. EMT-related proteins are differentially expressed among various MOGCT subtypes, suggesting differences in biological characteristics associated with invasion and metastasis.

• Authors: Olesya Solheim, Mette Førsund, Claes G Tropé, Sigrid Marie Kraggerud, Jahn M Nesland, Ben Davidson
• Journal: APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica (APMIS) Vol. 125 Issue 9 Pg. 781-786 (Sep 2017) ISSN: 1600-0463 [Electronic] Denmark
• PMID: 28585395 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2017 APMIS. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Cadherins
• HMGA2 Protein
• Vimentin
• ZEB1 protein, human
• Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Cadherins (metabolism)
• Child
• Dysgerminoma (pathology)
• Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (physiology)
• Female
• HMGA2 Protein (metabolism)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal (pathology, therapy)
• Ovarian Neoplasms (pathology, therapy)
• Teratoma (pathology)
• Vimentin (metabolism)
• Young Adult
• Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1 (metabolism)