Identification of New Molecular Biomarkers in Ovarian Cancer Using the Gene Expression Profile

Ovarian cancer is a common cause of death among women worldwide. The current diagnostic and prognostic procedures available for the treatment of ovarian cancer are either not specific or are very expensive. Gene expression profiling has proved to be a very effective tool in the exploration of new molecular markers in patients with ovarian cancer, although the link between such markers and patient survival and clinical outcomes is still elusive. We are looking for genes that may function in the development and progression of ovarian cancer. The aim of our study was to evaluate the expression of selected suppressor genes (ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2), proto-oncogenes (KRAS, c-JUN, c-FOS), pro-apoptotic genes (NOXA, PUMA), genes related to chromatin remodeling (MEN1), and genes related to carcinogenesis (NOD2, CHEK2, EGFR). Tissue samples from 30 normal ovaries and 60 ovarian carcinoma tumors were provided for analysis of the gene and protein expression. Gene expression analysis was performed using the real-time PCR method. The protein concentrations from tissue homogenates were determined using the ELISA technique according to the manufacturers' protocols. An increase in the expression level of mRNA and protein in women with ovarian cancer was observed for KRAS, c-FOS, PUMA, and EGFR. No significant changes in the transcriptional levels we observed for BRCA1, BRCA2, NOD2, or CHEK2. In conclusion, we suggest that KRAS, NOXA, PUMA, c-FOS, and c-JUN may be associated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer.