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Am J Transl Res 2013;5(3):336-346
Original Article
VCAM1 expression correlated with tumorigenesis and poor prognosis
in high grade serous ovarian cancer
Jianfei Huang Jing Zhang, Hongxia Li, Zhaohui Lu, Weiwei Shan, Imelda Mercado-Uribe, Jinsong Liu
Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of
Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, P. R. China; Department of Pathology,
Forth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shanaxi, P. R. China; Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital,
Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P. R. China; Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical
College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China;
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dan L Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor
College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
Received February 19, 2013; Accepted April 1, 2013; Epub April 19, 2013; Published April 30, 2013
Abstract: High expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1) has been shown to be associated with
several cancers although its role in ovarian cancer development is largely undefined. The purpose of this study is
to investigate its role in ovarian cancer using the epithelial cells and ovarian cancer cell lines and correlate its
expression with clinicopathologic parameters in ovarian cancer patients. VCAM1 expression was examined via
immunohistochemical staining of 251 high grade serous carcinoma samples using tissue microarray. The
expression of VCAM1 was silenced in RAS-transformed ovarian epithelial cell lines and two high grade ovarian
cancer cell lines. Cell migration was analyzed in vitro and effect on tumor growth was analyzed in nude mice. High
VCAM1 expression was found to be was related with response to surgery and chemotherapy drugs (P = 0.025)
and elder age at diagnosis (P = 0.008). Cox regression multivariable analysis showed that VCAM1 expression in
tumor cells was an independent prognostic factor. Ovarian cancer cells with VCAM1 overexpression, compared
with corresponding control cells, had increased cell migration and enhanced growth of xenograft tumors in mice.
Our data provide strong evidence that VCAM1 plays an important role in ovarian tumor growth, and it may be used
as a prognostic factor and novel therapeutic target for ovarian cancer. (AJTR1302011).
Keywords: Ovarian cancer, VCAM1, overall survival, tumor growth
Address correspondence to: Dr. Jinsong Liu, Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030-4095, USA. Phone: 713-745-1102; Fax: 713-563-1848;
E-mail: jliu@mdanderson.org
Original Article
VCAM1 expression correlated with tumorigenesis and poor prognosis
in high grade serous ovarian cancer
Jianfei Huang Jing Zhang, Hongxia Li, Zhaohui Lu, Weiwei Shan, Imelda Mercado-Uribe, Jinsong Liu
Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of
Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, P. R. China; Department of Pathology,
Forth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shanaxi, P. R. China; Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital,
Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P. R. China; Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical
College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China;
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dan L Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor
College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
Received February 19, 2013; Accepted April 1, 2013; Epub April 19, 2013; Published April 30, 2013
Abstract: High expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1) has been shown to be associated with
several cancers although its role in ovarian cancer development is largely undefined. The purpose of this study is
to investigate its role in ovarian cancer using the epithelial cells and ovarian cancer cell lines and correlate its
expression with clinicopathologic parameters in ovarian cancer patients. VCAM1 expression was examined via
immunohistochemical staining of 251 high grade serous carcinoma samples using tissue microarray. The
expression of VCAM1 was silenced in RAS-transformed ovarian epithelial cell lines and two high grade ovarian
cancer cell lines. Cell migration was analyzed in vitro and effect on tumor growth was analyzed in nude mice. High
VCAM1 expression was found to be was related with response to surgery and chemotherapy drugs (P = 0.025)
and elder age at diagnosis (P = 0.008). Cox regression multivariable analysis showed that VCAM1 expression in
tumor cells was an independent prognostic factor. Ovarian cancer cells with VCAM1 overexpression, compared
with corresponding control cells, had increased cell migration and enhanced growth of xenograft tumors in mice.
Our data provide strong evidence that VCAM1 plays an important role in ovarian tumor growth, and it may be used
as a prognostic factor and novel therapeutic target for ovarian cancer. (AJTR1302011).
Keywords: Ovarian cancer, VCAM1, overall survival, tumor growth
Address correspondence to: Dr. Jinsong Liu, Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030-4095, USA. Phone: 713-745-1102; Fax: 713-563-1848;
E-mail: jliu@mdanderson.org
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