The Research Of Carcinogenic Mechanisms And Clinical Significance Of MUC4, MUC16and HER2in Ovarian Cancer

Objective:In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of MUC4, MUC16and HER2in ovarian cancer cell lines, and to explore the pathogenic mechanisms of them in the development of ovarian cancer; moreover, to evaluate the clinical significance of them in the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of ovarian cancer.Methods:Three ovarian cancer cell lines, SKOV-3, OVCAR-3and CAOV-3were cultured for the subsequent experiments. The RT-PCR detection technique was performed to detect the mRNA level of MUC4, MUC16and HER2in three ovarian cancer cell lines. Immunofluochemistry and Western Blot methods were adopted to detect the protein level of MUC4, MUC16and HER2in three ovarian cancer cell lines.Results:(1)RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression level of MUC4mRNA was the highest in CAOV-3cell line, second in OVCAR-3cell line, and the lowest in SKOV-3cell line. There is no significant difference (P>0.05). While, the expression level of MUC16mRNA was the highest in OVCAR-3cell line, second in CAOV-3cell line, and the lowest in SKOV-3cell line. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05); and the expression level of HER2mRNA was the highest in CAOV-3cell line, second in OVCAR-3cell line, and the lowest in SKOV-3cell line, there is no significant difference between SKOV-3cell line and OVCAR-3cell line, but the differences between SKOV-3cell line and CAOV-3cell line, and between OVCAR-3cell line and CAOV-3cell line were statistically significant (P<0.05)(2) The expression of MUC4protein was not detected in SKOV-3cell line and OVCAR-3cell line by immunofluochemistry and Western Blot methods, but it was observed in CAOV-3cell line. The expression of MUC16protein was detected in three ovarian cancer cell lines. Moreover, the level was highest in OVCAR-3cell line, second in CAOV-3cell line, and the lowest in SKOV-3cell line. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05); While, the expression of HER2protein was detected in three cell lines, and the level was highest in CAOV-3cell line,second in OVCAR-3cell line, and the lowest in SKOV-3cell line. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05)Conclusions:(1) MUC4, MUC16and HER2are significantly correlated with the development of ovarian cancer, and it is hopeful to be a new therapeutic target of ovarian cancer.(2) The different expression of CA125(MUC16) at early stages and advanced stages of ovarian cancer might be related with the different tumor types.(3) The expression of MUC4, MUC16and HER2in three ovarian cancer cell lines, SKOV-3, OVCAR-3and CAOV-3are different. Moreover, MUC4alone or in combination with CA125(MUC16) might be a useful tumor marker in the diagnosis and disease monitoring of ovarian cancer.