Screening for genes associated with ovarian cancer prognosis

Background Human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3.ipl is more invasive and metastatic compared with itsparental line SKOV3.A total of 17 000 human genome complementary DNA microarrays were used to compare the geneexpression patterns of the two cell lines.Based on this,the gene expression profiles of 22 patients with ovarian cancerwere analyzed by cDNA microarray,and screened the 2-fold differentially expressed genes compared with the normalones.We screened genes relevant to clinical prognosis of serous ovarian cancer by determining the expression profilesof ovarian cancer genes to investigate cell receptor and immunity-associated genes,and as groundwork,identify ovariancancer-associated antigens at the gene level.Methods Total RNA was extracted from 22 patients with ovarian cancer and DNA microarrays were prepared.Afterscanning,hybridization signals were collected and the genes that were differentially expressed twice as compared withthe normal ones were screened.Results We screened 236 genes relevant to the prognosis of ovarian cancer from the 17 000 human genome cDNAmicroarrays.According to gene classification,48 of the 236 genes were cell receptor or immunity-associated genes,including 2 genes related to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage,4 genes tohistological grade,18 genes to lymph node metastasis,11 genes to residual disease,and 13 genes to the reactivity tochemotherapy.Several functionally important genes including fibronectin 1,pericentriolar material 1,beta-2-microglobulin,PPAR binding protein were identified through review of the literature.Conclusions The cDNA microarray of ovarian cancer genes developed in this study was effective and high throughputin screening the ovarian cancer-associated genes differentially expressed.Through the studies of the cell receptor andimmunity-associated genes we expect to identify the molecular biology index of ovarian cancer-associated antigens.