Expression And Significance Of EGFR And CK-20 In Ovarian Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)and cytokeratin-20(CK20) in ovarian epithelial tumor,and to explore their roles in the tumorigenesis,development and metastasis of ovarian tumor.Methods The expression of EGFR and CK20 were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) in 12 cases of normal ovary tissue,18 cases of benign ovarian tumor and 33 cases of primary ovarian carcinoma.The relationship between the two genes and the different clinicopathological features were analyzed.Results(1) The positive rates of EGFR mRNA mRNA and CK20 mRNA were significantly higher in malignant ovarian specimens than in the normal and benign ones(P<0.05).(2)The expression of EGFR mRNA was correlated to clinical stage in primary ovarian carcinoma,EGFR mRNA in the patients with stageⅢ～Ⅳhad higher positive expression rate than that in stageⅠ～Ⅱ(P<0.05).The positive expression rates of EGFR mRNA in mucinous ovarian carcinoma and serous ovarian carcinoma were no different(P>0.05).EGFR mRNA expression was not associated with the age, differentiation and lymph node metastasis.The expression of CK20 mRNA in ovarian carcinoma was related with the clinical stage and lymph metastasis(P<0.05).CK20 mRNA expression rates in patients with stageⅢ～Ⅳand in the group with lymph node metastasis were significantly higher than those in stageⅠ～Ⅱand in the group without lymph node metastasis respectively(P<0.05).The positive expression rates of CK20 mRNA in mucinous ovarian carcinoma and serous ovarian carcinoma were no different(P>0.05).CK20 mRNA expression had no correlation with the age and differentiation(P>0.05).(3) There was distinct correlation between EGFR mRNA and CK20 mRNA expression(P<0.05).Conclusion(1) The expressions of EGFR mRNA and CK20 mRNA are higher in ovarian cancer and may be correlated to the occurrence,development and metastasis of ovarian carcinoma.(2) Detection of EGFR mRNA and CK20 mRNA can offer a valuable reference to evaluate the metastasis and prognosis in ovarian carcinoma.