Expression and clinical role of DJ-1, a negative regulator of PTEN, in ovarian carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to analyze the expression and clinical role of DJ-1, a negative regulator of PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10), in ovarian carcinoma, and investigate the putative association between DJ-1 levels and expression of its transcriptional regulators specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and specificity protein 3 (Sp3). Effusions (n = 72) and solid tumors (n = 57, 42 primary and 15 metastases) were analyzed for DJ-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Most specimens (48 effusions, 50 solid tumors) were additionally analyzed for Sp1 and Sp3 mRNA expression.