MMP-7 is a highly specific negative marker for benign and malignant mesothelial cells in serous effusions.

The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnostic role of MMP-7 in effusion cytology. Effusions (n = 356), consisting of 307 carcinomas (184 ovarian, 55 breast, 32 lung, 36 carcinomas of other origin) and 49 malignant mesotheliomas, were analyzed for MMP-7 expression using immunohistochemistry. MMP-7 was expressed in 124/307 (40%) carcinomas and was uniformly absent in malignant mesotheliomas (0/49; 0%; P < .

HOXB8 expression in ovarian serous carcinoma effusions is associated with shorter survival.

Objective: HOX proteins are key transcription factors in embryogenesis. HOXB5 and HOXB8 were previously shown to be overexpressed in ovarian/primary peritoneal serous carcinoma compared to breast carcinoma using gene expression arrays. The present study investigated the clinical role of HOXB5 and HOXB8 in advanced-stage (FIGO III-IV) ovarian serous carcinoma.

AZGP1 and SPDEF mRNA expression differentiates breast carcinoma from ovarian serous carcinoma.

The ANPEP, AZGP1, and SPDEF genes were previously found to be overexpressed in breast compared to ovarian carcinoma effusions. The present study validated this finding in a larger cohort consisting of both primary and metastatic tumors. ANPEP, AZGP1, and SPDEF mRNA expression was investigated in 83 breast carcinomas (57 primary carcinomas and 26 effusions) and 40 ovarian carcinomas (20 primary carcinomas and 20 effusions) using qPCR.

Rab25 is overexpressed in Müllerian serous carcinoma compared to malignant mesothelioma.

Rab25, an epithelial-specific member of the Rab family of small GTPases, was previously shown to be overexpressed in ovarian/primary peritoneal serous carcinoma compared to malignant mesothelioma using gene expression arrays. The objective of this study was to validate this finding at the mRNA and protein level. Quantitative PCR analysis of 112 Müllerian serous carcinomas (84 effusions, 28 primary ovarian carcinomas) and 22 malignant mesotheliomas (19 effusions, 3 solid specimens) showed significantly higher RAB25 mRNA expression in the former tumor (p < 0.

Gene expression signatures differentiate adenocarcinoma of lung and breast origin in effusions.

Lung and breast adenocarcinoma at advanced stages commonly involve the serosal cavities, giving rise to malignant effusions. The aim of the present study was to compare the global gene expression patterns of metastases from these 2 malignancies, to expand and improve the diagnostic panel of biomarkers currently available for their differential diagnosis, as well as to define type-specific biological targets. Gene expression profiles of 7 breast and 4 lung adenocarcinoma effusions were analyzed using the HumanRef-8 BeadChip from Illumina.

Heat shock protein 90 is a putative therapeutic target in patients with recurrent advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma with serous effusions.

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) has anti-apoptotic properties exerted through its cytoprotective function of chaperone activity and increased expression in response to stress. The present study analyzed the clinical role of HSP90 in effusions from patients with advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma. HSP90 protein expression was investigated in 265 effusions using immunohistochemistry.

Expression and clinical role of growth differentiation factor-15 in ovarian carcinoma effusions.

Introduction: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β family. We analyzed the expression and clinical role of GDF-15 in ovarian carcinoma effusions.

Methods: The concentration of soluble GDF-15 was measured in 195 effusion supernatants from 162 patients with ovarian carcinoma by an immunoradiometric assay.

CD105 (Endoglin) expression in breast carcinoma effusions is a marker of poor survival.

We analyzed the expression and clinical role of endoglin (CD105) in breast carcinoma effusions. Endoglin levels were measured in 36 effusion supernatants by ELISA and studied for association with the cancer-associated markers calprotectin, VEGF, and the VEGF receptor sFlt1. Endoglin expression was further studied in 46 effusions and 22 primary carcinomas using immunohistochemistry.

miRNA profiling along tumour progression in ovarian carcinoma.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that exert a regulatory effect post-transcriptionally by binding target mRNAs and inhibiting gene translation. miRNA expression is deregulated in cancer. The aim of this study was to characterize the differences in miRNA expression pattern and the miRNA-regulating machinery between ovarian carcinoma (OC) cells in primary tumours versus effusions.

Nuclear factor kappaB transcription factors are coexpressed and convey a poor outcome in ovarian cancer.

Background: Recent work has suggested a role for nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) in the propagation of ovarian cancer cell lines, but the significance and mechanism of NF-kappaB in ovarian cancer is unknown. The authors hypothesized that the NF-kappaB pathway is over activated in aggressive ovarian cancers.

Methods: The levels of 3 NF-kappaB transcription factors, the activating inhibitors of NF-kappaB (IkappaB) kinases, and the NF-kappaB target matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) were assessed by immunohistochemistry in specimens of ovarian cancer that were obtained at diagnosis from a cohort of 33 patients who subsequently received combined paclitaxel, cisplatin, and cyclophosphamide.

Exploring the peritoneal surface malignancy phenotype--a pilot immunohistochemical study of human pseudomyxoma peritonei and derived animal models.

Peritoneal surface malignancies are characterized by the propensity for tumor growth on peritoneal surfaces without development of extraperitoneal metastases, but the molecular basis for this phenomenon is incompletely understood. Five human tumors and corresponding orthotopic animal models of human pseudomyxoma peritonei and peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis from colorectal carcinoma were extensively characterized by immunohistochemical analysis of molecular markers of tissue differentiation (carcinoembryonal antigen, CK20, CK7, and vimentin), proliferation and metastasis (Ki-67, vascular endothelial growth factor, and S100A4), mucins (MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC), and adhesion molecules (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, P-cadherin, claudin 1, claudin 3, and claudin 4). Macro- and microscopic growth patterns of implanted human tissues were preserved through passages in the animals, as were with few exception immunohistochemical staining profiles, supporting the relevance of the models as tools for studying the human disease.

Mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition determinants as characteristics of ovarian carcinoma effusions.

The present study investigated the intracellular regulation of E-cadherin in ovarian carcinoma. E-cadherin expression and regulation by Snail and Pak1 were studied in ES-2 and OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells in vitro. Twist1, Zeb1 and Vimentin mRNA expression and HIF-1alpha protein expression were analyzed in 80 and 189 clinical specimens, respectively.

Gene expression signatures differentiate ovarian/peritoneal serous carcinoma from breast carcinoma in effusions.

Ovarian/primary peritoneal carcinoma and breast carcinoma are the gynaecological cancers that most frequently involve the serosal cavities.With the objective of improving on the limited diagnostic panel currently available for the differential diagnosis of these two malignancies,as well as to define tumour-specific biological targets, we compared their global gene expression patterns. Gene expression profiles of 10 serous ovarian/peritoneal and eight ductal breast carcinoma effusions were analysed using the HumanRef-8 BeadChip from Illumina.

Tenascin-X is a novel diagnostic marker of malignant mesothelioma.

Tenascin XB (TNXB) was previously identified as a gene that is more highly expressed in malignant mesothelioma compared with ovarian/peritoneal serous carcinoma based on gene expression array analysis. The objective of this study was to validate this finding at the mRNA and protein levels. Effusions (n = 91; 71 ovarian carcinomas, 10 breast carcinomas, and 10 malignant mesotheliomas) were assayed for TNXB mRNA expression using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-alpha, -beta, and -gamma in ovarian carcinoma effusions is associated with poor chemoresponse and shorter survival.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors regulate lipid metabolism, affecting inflammation and cancer. The present study analyzed the anatomical site-related expression and prognostic role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in ovarian carcinoma. Fresh-frozen effusions (n = 79), primary carcinomas (n = 44), and solid metastases (n = 16) were studied for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha, -beta, and -gamma messenger RNA expression using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.