Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2008 May;51(5):518-526.

The expression of Thymosin beta4 with angiogenic factors in epithelial ovarian cancer

• Kim A
• Chung HW
• Kim JI
• Chun SH
• Moon HS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine thymosin beta4 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer compared to normal ovarian tissue.
METHODS
Normal and pathologic ovarian tissues were obtained from healthy women (n=18), and from patients with ovarian cancer (n=27). The expression of thymosin beta4 mRNA was examined by quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction (QC PCR). Thymosin beta4 mRNA expression was examined with angiopoietic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-1 and 2.
RESULTS
The expression of thymosin beta4 mRNA in epithelial ovarian cancer was higher than that in the normal ovary (p<0.05). Thymosin beta4 mRNA expression was not correlated with ovarian cancer stages, pathologic types, preoperative CA125 levels, or metastasis to lymph nodes but was correlated with the expression vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-2 (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that overexpression of thymosin beta4 mRNA may be a biologic marker to differentiate epithelial ovarian cancer from normal ovary and it may play a role in angiogenesis of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Keyword

Thymosin beta4; Ovarian cancer; Angiogenesis

MeSH Terms

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
Angiopoietin-1
Angiopoietin-2
Biomarkers
Female
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial
Ovarian Neoplasms
Ovary
Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Messenger
Thymosin
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
Angiopoietin-1
Angiopoietin-2
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial
Ovarian Neoplasms
RNA, Messenger
Thymosin
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A