Expression of adrenomedullin in human ovaries, ovarian cysts and cancers. Correlation with estrogens receptor status.

Objective: To investigate the expression of adrenomedullin (AM) in benign and malignant ovarian tissues and its correlation with estrogen receptors (ERs) mRNA status.

Study Design: Ovarian carcinoma cell lines, normal ovaries, serous cysts and cancers were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in order to quantify adrenomedullin and ERs mRNAs expression. Some ovarian samples were submitted to laser-capture microdissection to determine the differential expression of target genes in epithelium and stroma.