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Research Article Open access CC BY 3.0

Expression of ERα, its ERαΔ3 Splice Variant and γ-SYNUCLEIN in Ovarian Cancer: A Pilot Study

Karen T. Cheung, Siân E. Taylor, Imran I. Patel, Adam J. Bentley, Helen F. Stringfellow, Nigel J. Fullwood, Pierre L. Martin-Hirsch, Francis L. Martin

Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research · pp. 430–444 · Published 14 Sep 2011

10.9734/BJMMR/2011/769

Abstract

Aims: Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality of any gynaecological malignancy; this is due to rapid peritoneal spread of tumour cells and neovascularization. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this is critical to developing early diagnostic or treatment strategies. We devised a pilot study to examine the role of γ-SYNUCLEIN (γ-SYN), oestrogen receptor (ER)α, and the splice variant ERαΔ3. Methodology: With ethical approval, ovarian tissue was collected from patients (n=24) undergoing oopherectomy for non-ovarian pathology or primary surgery for suspected ovarian cancer. Quantitative gene expression analysis was employed for γ-SYN, ERα, and ERαΔ3. To identify the in situ localization, immunofluorescence for γ-syn was carried out. Results: Ovarian tumour tissue exhibited an elevated expression of γ-SYN and high-grade tumours had an elevated ERαΔ3:ERα ratio compared with benign tissue. The majority of previous studies point to the γ-syn protein being present in epithelial cells of high-grade disease. Our study supports this, but additionally we conclusively identify its presence in the endothelial cells of vasculature surrounding low-grade disease; immunofluorescence was strongest in the apical cells surrounding the lumen. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate for the first time that there are readily-expressed levels of γ-SYN and ERαΔ3 in normal ovarian tissue and ovarian tumours. In high-grade disease, γ-syn and an elevated ERαΔ3:ERα ratio might confer metastatic potential to the tumourigenic cells and promote neoangiogenesis. Future in vitro studies might be necessary to delineate such a mechanism, which could potentially be the basis of early intervention.

Endothelial cells ovarian cancer ERα ERαΔ3 γ-SYNUCLEIN neoangiogenesis

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