Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Integration of Bioinformatics Approaches and Experimental Validations to Understand the Role of Notch Signaling in Ovarian Cancer
Published on: January 12, 2020
Oncogene and growth factor expression in ovarian cancer
F Kommoss1, T Bauknecht, G Birmelin
1Department of Gynaecology, Albert-Ludwig University, Freiburg, Germany.
Abstract:
The varying tumor-biological behavior of ovarian carcinomas probably influences both their operability and response to chemotherapy, which are the most relevant prognostic factors. The phenotype of different ovarian carcinomas is obviously associated with an activation of the EGF/TGF-alpha signal pathway, including c-myc and c-jun expression. Analysis of EGF-R, TGF-alpha, c-myc and c-jun expression in 33 stage III/IV, and 2 stage I/II ovarian carcinomas with biochemical, molecular-chemical and immunohistochemical methods showed a correlation between the mRNA and protein levels of EGF-R and TGF-alpha for tumors with low or high expressing rates. However, the concentration of measurable free EGF-Rs seems to depend on the amount of TGF-alpha expression by the tumors. The EGF-R binding ligand TGF-alpha is produced by epithelial tumor cells; stromal cells are usually TGF-alpha-negative, as shown by immunohistochemistry. High expression rates of EGF-R. TGF-alpha and c-myc were detected in 6, 7, and 10 out of 35 ovarian carcinomas, respectively. C-jun mRNA was detected in 18/19 cases studied. Non-malignant tissues originating from myometrium or ovary expressed no (or only small amounts of) EGF-R or TGF-alpha mRNA, whereas a high c-myc expression was found in 1/7 normal myometria, and in 2/5 normal ovaries. There was no strong correlation between EGF-R/TGF-alpha and c-myc/c-jun expression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Related Concept Videos
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...

