Exp Mol Med.  2011 Feb;43(2):91-100. 10.3858/emm.2011.43.2.011.

AGR2, a mucinous ovarian cancer marker, promotes cell proliferation and migration

• Park K
• Chung YJ
• So H
• Kim K
• Park J
• Oh M
• Jo M
• Choi K
• Lee EJ
• Choi YL
• Song SY
• Bae DS
• Kim BG
• Lee JH

• KMID: 1097266
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3858/emm.2011.43.2.011

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of death in women. Early detection of ovarian cancer is essential to decrease mortality. However, the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is difficult due to a lack of clinical symptoms and suitable molecular diagnostic markers. Thus, identification of meaningful tumor biomarkers with potential clinical application is clearly needed. To search for a biomarker for the early detection of ovarian cancer, we identified human anterior gradient 2 (AGR2) from our systematic analysis of paired normal and ovarian tumor tissue cDNA microarray. We noted a marked overexpression of AGR2 mRNA and protein in early stage mucinous ovarian tumors compared to normal ovarian tissues and serous type ovarian tumors by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. To further elucidate the role of AGR2 in ovarian tumorigenesis, stable 2774 human ovarian cancer cell lines overexpressing AGR2 were established. Forced expression of AGR2 in 2774 cells enhanced the growth and migration of ovarian cancer cells. AGR2 protein was detected in the serum of mucinous ovarian cancer patients by Western blot and ELISA analysis. Thus, AGR2 is a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of mucinous ovarian cancer and an ELISA assay may facilitate the early detection of mucinous ovarian cancer using patient serum.

Keyword

AGR2 protein, human; biological markers; ovarian neoplasms

MeSH Terms

Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Movement/physiology
Cell Proliferation
Female
Gene Expression Profiling
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
HEK293 Cells
Humans
Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics/*metabolism/pathology
Proteins/genetics/*metabolism
Tumor Markers, Biological/blood/*metabolism