Profiling of selected angiogenesis-related genes in serous ovarian cancer patients

Since angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer the aim of the study was to compare the expression of the most relevant angiogenesis-related genes in serous ovarian cancer samples. Genes were divided into 5 subgroups according to their angiogenic potential: growth factors and their receptors; cytokines/chemokines; adhesion molecules and other matrix related proteins; transcriptions factors and signaling molecules; morphogenic factors, and angiogenesis inhibitors.

Twenty-nine patients were involved in the study: 20 with serous ovarian cancer and 9 healthy controls. All neoplasms were confirmed by histopathological examination. Healthy ovarian control samples were obtained from women diagnosed with fibroids and had previously scheduled operations. Real-time PCR gene arrays were used to examine the expression of 84 human angiogenesis-related genes and expression of selected proteins was assessed with ELISA.

Significantly higher expressions of 46 genes were found in the ovarian cancer group compared to the healthy control group. By the use of ELISA we confirmed the expression of three proteins i.e.: angiopoietin-2, angiopoietin-like protein 3, and angiopoietin receptor 2. Only angiopoietin-2 and angiopoietin receptor 2 showed significant differences between ovarian cancer and healthy controls.

Changes in the expression of selected genes associated with angiogenesis may add new information to the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. Although the angiopoietin-2 signaling pathway may play an important role in neovascularization in ovarian cancer, the role of angiopoietin-like protein 3 is yet to be established.