EXPRESSION OF PLATELET-DERIVED ENDOTHELIAL-CELL GROWTH-FACTOR (PD-ECGF) AND ITS MESSENGER-RNA IN OVARIAN CANCERS

The potential of growth, invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer cel ls associated with neovascularization, and the expression of platelet- derived endothelial growth factor (PD-ECGF) and its mRNA in ovarian ca ncers were determined. The relationship between their expression and h istopathological types and clinical stages of ovarian cancers was also analyzed. The levels of PD-ECGF and its mRNA were higher in ovarian c ancers than in normal ovaries. Furthermore. some endometrioid carcinom as and serous cystadenocarcinomas of the ovary and some ovarian cancer s in stages III and IV expressed remarkably high levels of PD-ECGF and its mRNA. Therefore, in some ovarian cancers, PD-ECGF might be relate d to advanced stages of ovarian cancers associated with neovasculariza tion. Published by Elsevier Science ireland Ltd.