Fibulin-4 is associated with tumor progression and a poor prognosis in ovarian carcinomas.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Fibulin-4, a member of the fibulin family of extracellular glycoproteins, is implicated in the progressions of some cancers. However, no information has been available to date regarding the function of fibulin-4 in ovarian carcinoma progression.

METHODS:

In this study, fibulin-4 mRNA and protein expression in normal ovarian tissue, ovarian tumor, high invasive subclones and low invasive subclones were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The serum levels of fibulin-4, cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) and cerbohydrate antigen 199 (CA19-9) in patients with ovarian tumor were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and electrochemiluminescent immunoassay. To assess the angiogenic properties of fibulin-4, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and tumor microvessel density were analyzed in ovarian carcinoma by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS:

Fibulin-4 expression was upregulated in ovarian carcinoma, and positively correlated with MVD and VEGF expression. Fibulin-4 overexpression was significantly associated with advanced stage, low differentiation, lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer. The serum levels of fibulin-4, CA-125 and CA19-9 in patients with ovarian carcinoma were much higher than those with benign ovarian tumors and normal controls. Compared to CA-125 and CA19-9, fibulin-4 had better diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.

CONCLUSIONS:

Fibulin-4 is a novel gene that is found overexpressed in ovarian cancer and associated with poor prognostic clinicopathologic features. This study shows that fibulin-4 may serve as a new prognostic factor and as a potential therapeutic target for patients with ovarian cancer in the future.

• Authors: Jie Chen, Zhao Liu, Shuang Fang, Rui Fang, Xi Liu, Yueran Zhao, XiangXin Li, Lei Huang, Jie Zhang
• Journal: BMC cancer (BMC Cancer) Vol. 15 Pg. 91 (Mar 04 2015) ISSN: 1471-2407 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25885889 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• CA-125 Antigen
• EFEMP2 protein, human
• Extracellular Matrix Proteins
• VEGFA protein, human
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• carbohydrate antigen 199, human

Topics

• Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate (blood)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood, genetics)
• CA-125 Antigen (blood)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Extracellular Matrix Proteins (blood, genetics)
• Female
• Humans
• Neovascularization, Pathologic (genetics, metabolism)
• Ovarian Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Ovary (blood supply, pathology)
• Prognosis
• Up-Regulation
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (metabolism)