Expression of tumor-associated differentially expressed Gene-14 (TADG-14/KLK8) and its protein hK8 in uterine endometria and endometrial carcinomas.

To clarify the biological behavior of TADG-14/KLK8, we investigated TADG-14/KLK8 mRNA by semiquantitative RT-PCR and hK8 expression by immunohistochemistry using 37 normal endometria and 44 endometrial carcinoma tissues. TADG-14/KLK8 mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in proliferative compared to secretory phase endometria (p = 0.0143).

Relative expression levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokine mRNA are independent prognostic factors in patients with ovarian cancer.

The aim of the present study was to examine mRNA expression levels of Th1 (TNF-alpha , IFN-gamma, and IL-12p40) and Th2 (IL-6 and IL-10) cytokines for any association with clinicopathological characteristics of epithelial ovarian cancer. mRNA was isolated, and cDNA prepared from 40 samples of epithelial ovarian cancers. Expression level of each cytokine mRNA was examined by the real-time PCR technique (GAPDH gene, internal control).

Expression of human kallikrein 7 (hK7/SCCE) and its inhibitor antileukoprotease (ALP/SLPI) in uterine endocervical glands and in cervical adenocarcinomas.

To investigate the potential role of human kallikrein 7 (hK7/SCCE) and its inhibitor antileukoprotease (ALP/SLPI) in the development and progression of uterine cervical adenocarcinoma, we examined hK7 and ALP protein expression by immunohistochemistry in 70 cervical adenocarcinomas and 13 normal cervical tissues. Positive hK7 expression rates in normal endocervical glands and in cervical adenocarcinomas were 46.2 and 80%, respectively.

The transmembrane protease serine (TMPRSS3/TADG-12) D variant: a potential candidate for diagnosis and therapeutic intervention in ovarian cancer.

The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of splice variants of the TADG-12 (TMPRSS3) gene in normal ovarian epithelial tissue and ovarian carcinoma and further to associate the expression of TADG-12 variant with clinicopathologic characteristics if such an association exists. TADG-12D variant expression was examined by semiquantitative PCR in 50 ovarian tumors [41 adenocarcinomas, 3 low malignant potential (LMP) tumors, and 6 adenomas] and 7 normal ovaries. In carcinomas as well as LMP tumors and adenomas, TADG-12D variant mRNA expression was significantly elevated compared to that in normal ovary samples.

Human kallikrein 8 (hK8/TADG-14) expression is associated with an early clinical stage and favorable prognosis in ovarian cancer.

The purpose of this study was to examine human kallikrein 8 (hK8/TADG-14) expression in epithelial ovarian tumors and to investigate the association of hK8 expression levels with patient survival. Human kallikrein 8 protein (hK8) expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in 74 ovarian adenocarcinomas and 6 normal ovaries. Results of immunostaining were correlated with clinicopathological variables and overall survival of the patients.

Human kallikrein gene 11 (KLK11) mRNA overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine expression levels of the human tissue kallikrein 11 gene (KLK11) in epithelial ovarian tumors and to identify the relationship between KLK11 expression and patient survival.

Experimental Design: KLK11 mRNA expression was examined by semiquantitative PCR in 64 epithelial ovarian tumors (7 adenomas, 6 low malignant potential tumors, and 51 adenocarcinomas) and in 10 normal ovaries. Semiquantitative PCR results were correlated with clinicopathologic variables and overall survival.

Telomerase activation in endometrial epithelial cells by paracrine effectors from stromal cells in primary cultured human endometrium.

Uterine endometrium displays telomerase activity in a menstrual cycle-dependent manner, despite its somatic origin. This study was performed to elucidate the regulation of telomerase in human endometrium. Telomerase activity and human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA expression in proliferative endometrium were significantly stronger than those in secretory endometrium.

Increased expression of IGF II mRNA-binding protein 1 mRNA is associated with an advanced clinical stage and poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer.

The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of IGF II mRNA-binding protein (IMP-1, -2, and -3) mRNA in epithelial ovarian tumors, and to identify the association of IMP-1, -2, and -3 expression levels with patient survival. IMP mRNA expression levels were examined by semi-quantitative PCR in 59 epithelial ovarian tumors (8 adenomas, 5 LMP tumors, and 46 adenocarcinomas) and in 7 normal ovaries. Results of semiquantitative PCR were correlated with clinicopathological variables and overall survival.

Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 protein and its relationship to apoptosis in cervical carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The aims of this study were to examine the overexpression of COX-2 protein and its relationship to apoptosis in cervical carcinoma patients treated with neoadjuvant chemo-therapy (NAC), and to assess the potential role of COX-2 as a predictor of the response to NAC in a series of patients with cervical carcinoma. For immunohistochemical analysis, cervical cancer tissue samples were collected before NAC and 3 weeks after NAC using transcatheter arterial infusion of cisplatin from 40 patients who underwent surgery for advanced cervical carcinoma in stages IB, IIA and IIB and from 5 normal cervical tissues between 1991 and 2000 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, under informed consent. Patients were randomly assigned to receive one or two arterial infusions of cisplatin.

Skp2 overexpression is a prognostic factor in patients with ovarian adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine Skp2 expression in epithelial ovarian tumors and to identify the association of Skp2 expression levels with patient survival.

Experimental Design: Skp2 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in 134 epithelial ovarian tumors [20 adenomas, 23 low malignant potential (LMP) tumors, and 91 adenocarcinomas]. Results of immunostaining were correlated with clinicopathological variables and overall survival.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and its relationship to p53 accumulation in ovarian adenocarcinomas.

To investigate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and its relationship to p53 accumulation in ovarian adenocarcinomas, COX-2 and p53 protein expressions were examined by immunohistochemistry in 86 ovarian adenocarcinomas and six normal ovaries. In addition, COX-2 mRNA expression level was examined by semi-quantitative PCR in 36 ovarian adenocarcinomas. Neither COX-2 expression nor p53 accumulation were detected in normal ovarian surface epithelium or germinal inclusion cyst epithelial cells.

GnRH agonist inhibits human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA expression in endometrial cancer cells.

We investigated the relationship between the antiproliferative effect of GnRH agonist and telomerase activity using the endometrial cancer cell line HEC-1A. The subjects were 38 endometrial cancer, and 2 atypical endometrial hyperplasia patients. GnRH-R expression was detected using RT-PCR.

The CA 125 gene: a newly discovered extension of the glycosylated N-terminal domain doubles the size of this extracellular superstructure.

CA 125 is a well-established marker for patients diagnosed with ovarian carcinoma. It is clearly elaborated in serous cystadenocarcinomas and less likely to be expressed in mucinous tumors. It has been 20 years since CA 125 was first recognized and it is only in recent years (the past 2) that some progress has been made toward cloning the gene, providing the basis for an understanding of the functional role of this molecule in embryonic development and neoplastic transformation.

Tumor dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase activity in advanced cervical carcinoma.

Patients with advanced cervical carcinoma were treated with oral fluoropyrimidine (UFT) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy and its antitumor effect was examined. The relationship between thymidylate synthase (TS) or dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity in tumor tissue and apoptosis was also investigated. The subjects were 56 patients with advanced cervical carcinoma.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 by cells isolated from the peritoneal fluid of women with ovarian carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the level of expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and -9 by cells isolated from the peritoneal fluid of women with ovarian carcinoma.

Study Design: Tumor tissue specimens and cells isolated from peritoneal fluid from 20 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma were examined for MMP-2 and -9 expression using immunostaining. Six benign peritoneal effusions containing mesothelial cells were also included in the study.

Increased MCL-1 expression is associated with poor prognosis in ovarian carcinomas.

To investigate the potential role of the BCL-2 gene family (BAX, BCL-2, MCL-1, and BCL-XL) in ovarian cancer development and progression, mRNA expression levels of these genes were measured using semi-quantitative PCR in epithelial ovarian tumor tissues and normal ovaries. The immunohistochemical expression of MCL-1 in ovarian tumors was also examined. The expression levels of BAX and MCL-1 mRNA were significantly higher in ovarian cancers and in adenomas than in normal ovaries (P < 0.

Endometrial cytodiagnosis using a new softcyte versus a conventional endocyte.

A new endometrial cytologic sampling device, softcyte, was used in cytological screening for endometrial cancer, and was compared with the endocyte with regard to manipulability, adverse effects (including pain and hemorrhage), and cellular findings (including the quantity of cells collected, the success rate, cell freshness, and cellular clumping). A total of 315 women (premenopause 251, postmenopause 64) were randomly assigned to two groups who underwent the endometrial cytological screening with either the softcyte or the endocyte. To assess the value of the softcyte we compared it with the endocyte.

High expression of MCL1 gene related to vascular endothelial growth factor is associated with poor outcome in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

We evaluated the level of MCL1 gene expression using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in lymph nodes of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). MCL1 expression in patients in complete remission (CR) was significantly lower than in patients with progressive disease (PD, P = 0.0043).