Expression of Wnt 1 and beta-catenin in epithelial ovarian cancer

Yim, Kyoung Ran; Lee, Chan; Kim, Yong Min; Kim, Kwang Il; Kim, Seung Jo; Hwang, Youn Yeung; Lee, Seon Yeong; Na, Young Jeong; Jeong, Sang Geun; Oh, Yoe Un

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We were trying to identify the expression of Wnt 1 and beta-catenin in normal ovarian epithelium and epithelial ovarian tumor.
METHODS
We used archival formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from Comprehensive Gynecologic Cancer Center and the Department of Pathology at Bundang CHA Hospital from 2000 to 2005. Immunohistochemical staining for Wnt 1 and beta-catenin was performed on the ovarian epithelial tissues. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 10.1 for Windows and significance was defined as P<0.05.
RESULTS
Of 114 cases, the cases were composed of 54 carcinomas, 40 borderline tumors, 12 benign tumors and 8 normal control ovarian tissues. Abnormal nucleocytoplasmic expression of beta-catenin was found in 4 endometrioid carcinomas. The nuclear expression of beta-catenin was found especially in the components of the endometrioid carcinoma (28.6%, P<0.05). Wnt 1 was overexpressed in all 9 clear cell carcinomas, but not frequent in the other types of malignant tumors (P<0.05). We found a statistically significant correlation between beta-catenin nuclear localization and endometrioid carcinomas. And we found a significant correlation between Wnt 1 expression and clear cell carcinomas.
CONCLUSION
It does not seem that Wnt 1 over expression directly provoke the nuclear localization of beta-catenin. But, deregulation of beta-catenin and Wnt 1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of ovarian epithelial carcinogenesis of endometriod carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma. Evaluating this avenue of regulation of beta-catenin and Wnt protein in ovarian epithelial carcinoma may provide a new direction for early diagnosis and treatment in ovarian epithelial carcinoma and provide opportunities for making a certain biomarkers.