The IgLON family in epithelial ovarian cancer: expression profiles and clinicopathologic correlates.

Purpose: The IgLON family of cell adhesion molecules, comprising OPCML, HNT, LSAMP, and NEGR1, has recently been linked to cancer, through two of its members being proposed as tumor suppressors. We examined the expression profile of the family in human sporadic epithelial ovarian cancer and the normal ovary.

Experimental Design: We determined the expression level of each IgLON in a panel comprising 57 tumor and 11 normal ovarian samples by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR. The results were statistically tested for associations with clinicopathologic variables.

Results: OPCML, LSAMP and NEGR1 exhibited reduced expression in the tumor samples relative to the normal samples, whereas HNT expression was elevated. Statistically significant changes were specific to histologic type. The expression levels of individual IgLONs were correlated, the most significant finding being a positive correlation between LSAMP and NEGR1. LSAMP expression was also negatively correlated with overall survival and was found to be a negative predictor of outcome.

Conclusions: The expression of the IgLON family is altered in sporadic epithelial ovarian tumors in comparison to the normal ovary. In our small but representative cohort of patients, we have found significant correlations and associations in expression and clinicopathology that suggest a wider role of the family in ovarian cancer.