Journal of Cytology & Histology

Increased Expression of PITX2, LEF-1,beta-Catenin in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Huanhuan Guo, Hai Zhu, Shujun Zhao, Min Zhang, Xingshuo Liu, Huihui Han, Meng Cao, Li Dong and Hongyu Li

Objective: Pituitary homeobox-2 (PITX2), a member of the bicoid/paired-like homeobox gene family, plays an important role in determining left-right asymmetry in vertebrates and development of multiple organs by serving as a downstream effector of Nodal, TGFβ, and Wnt signaling pathway. PITX2, lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF-1) and beta-catenin are required for the inductive formation of several epithelial-derived organs, including teeth, which remains unclear interaction Wnt signal pathway in the development of ovarian epithelial tumors. Research PITX2, LEF-1 and beta-catenin direct interactions may provide new mechanisms for epithelial ovarian cancer.
Materials and methods: 1. Using immunohistochemical (IHC), real-time quantitative RT-PCR (Q-PCR), Western blot to analyse the expression of PITX2, LEF-1, β-catenin in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines. 2. Using Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the expression of PITX2 in serum of epithelial ovarian cancer. 3. Using MTT to investigate cell’s proliferation and migration.
Results: 1. The protein and mRNA in PITX2, LEF-1, β-catenin frequently overexpress in ovarian cancer samples and cell lines. Low or no expression in benign ovarian tumors and normal ovarian samples (p<0.05). 2. The preoperative serum levels of PITX2 in ovarian cancer groups was higher than benign ovarian tumors and normal ovarian samples (p<0.05), and the levels of PITX2 in preoperative serum in ovarian cancer groups were significantly higher than the postoperative groups (p<0.05).
Conclusion: PITX2 is involved in the occurrence and development of epithelial ovarian cancer, and PITX2 may act as a downstream target genes in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is regulated by Wnt/β-catenin. The high expression of PITX2 protein in the serum of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, suggesting that PITX2 may serve as a good indicator of early diagnosis and evaluation of disease progression in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.