A. Harlozinska et al., NM23 EXPRESSION IN TISSUE-SECTIONS AND TUMOR EFFUSION CELLS OF OVARIAN NEOPLASMS, International journal of cancer, 69(5), 1996, pp. 415-419
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.