NM23 EXPRESSION IN TISSUE-SECTIONS AND TUMOR EFFUSION CELLS OF OVARIAN NEOPLASMS

The genetic changes involved in the metastatic process of ovarian epit helial cancer remain undetermined. The expression of nm23, a putative metastasis-suppressor gene product, was assessed immunohistochemically in malignant and benign ovarian neoplasms, considering histology of t umors and clinical advancement of disease. Comparison of nm23 protein content in tissue sections and respective cyst and/or ascitic fluid ce lls was also performed. Significant heterogeneity of nm23 immunostaini ng was observed, and no correlation with histological subtype of ovari an carcinoma was found. Expression of nm23 was higher in carcinomas co mpared with benign tumors. A significant trend to have a higher nm23 r eactivity in ascitic fluid cells vs. primary tumors was observed. Our results indicate that the increase of nm23 reactivity is activated in the early stages of the disease and that the progression of ovarian ca rcinoma is accompanied by overexpression of nm23 protein. Our observat ions did not confirm the postulated role of nm23 as a suppressor gene in ovarian cancer. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.