[Alteration of multiple tumor metastatic genes with correlation to metastasis in ovarian carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the expression and mutation of MTA1, nm23H1 and E-cadherin(E-cad) genes in ovarian carcinoma (OC) in relation to lymph node (LN) metastasis.

Methods: A panel of normal ovarian tissues, primary OC specimens and corresponding LNS was examined for mRNA expression and mutation of MTA1 and nm23H1 and protin expression of E-cad genes by using RT-PCR, RT-PCR-SSCP and immunohistochemistry.

Results: The frequency of MTA1 over expression was 100%(7/7) in primary OC with metastasis but only 38.5%(5/13) in those without metastasis (P = 0.0103). Overexpression of MTA1 was observed in 87.5%(6/7) of LNS with metastasis but in only 23%(3/13) of LNS without metastasis (P = 0.0118). In contrast with MTA1, low expression of nm23H1 mRNA was seen in 7 of 7 OC with metastasis but only in 4 of 13(30%) of those without metastasis (P = 0.0043). Low nm23H1 expression was also seen in 7 of 7 LNS with metastasis but only in 5 of 13 (38.5%) nonmetastatic LNS (P = 0.0102). Meantime, no expression of E-cad protein was observed in 7 of 7 OC with metastasis but in 6 of 13(46.2%) of those without metastasis (P = 0.044). In correlation analysis of the three genes, MTA1 reversely correlated with nm23H1 and E-cad respectively (r = -0.903, -0.803), and positive correlation existed between nm23H1 and E-cad (r = 0.724). No mutation of MTA1, nm23H1 and was found by SSCP analysis.

Conclusion: The mRNA expression of MTA1, nm23H1 and E-cad is positively and negatively correlated with LN metastasis. The expression abnormalities but not the mutations of the three genes are frequent events related to LN metastasis of ovarian cancer.