Thrombospondin-1 and-2 messenger RNA expression in epithelial ovarian tumor

Background: The role of thrombospondin (TSP) in tumor progression remains c ontroversial. The association of TSP with clinicopathological features rega rding prognostic significance was examined in patients with epithelial ovar ian tumor. Materials and Methods: Gene expression of TSP-1 and TSP-2 was as sessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in 6 borderline a nd 29 malignant epithelial ovarian tumors. Results: TSP-1 mRNA expression w as detected in 14 out of the 29 malignant epithelial ovarian tumors (48.3%) , whereas TSP-2 mRNA expression was detected in 7 malignant epithelial ovar ian tumors (24.1%). In contrast, no specimen from the borderline epithelial ovarian tumors expressed TSP mRNA. TSP-1 expression was significantly high er in tumors with advanced stage, massive ascites, positive peritoneal cyto logy and high grade. TSP-2 expression was significantly higher in tumors wi th massive ascites. Patients exhibiting TSP-1 and -2 mRNA expression demons trated a markedly poorer prognosis than those lacking TSP-1 and -2 mRNA exp ression. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that TSP expression ma y be associated with an aggressive phenotype in this class of neoplasm.