[mRNA expression and mutation of MTA1 and nm23H1 genes in ovarian carcinoma in relation to lymph node metastasis].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate mRNA expression and mutation of MTA1 and nm23H1 genes in ovarian carcinoma (OC) in relation to lymph node (LN) metastasis.

METHODS

A panel of eight normal ovarian tissues, twenty primary OC specimens and twenty corresponding LNs was examined for mRNA expression and mutation of MTA1 and nm23H1 genes by using RT-PCR and RT-PCR-SSCP. The level of expression was determined by the relative optic density (ROD) of the PCR products.

RESULTS

The frequency of MTA1 overexpression was 100% (7/7) in primary OC with metastasis but only 38.5% (5/13) in those without metastasis (P = 0.0103). Overexpression of MTA1 was observed in 87.5% (6/7) of LNs with metastasis but in only 23% (3/13) of LNs without metastasis (P = 0.0118). In contrast with MTA1, low expression of nm23H1 mRNA was seen in 7 of 7 OC with metastasis but only in 4 of 13 (30%) of those without metastasis (P = 0.0043). Low nm23H1 expression was also seen in 7 of 7 LNs with metastasis but only in 5 of 13 (38.5%) nonmetastatic LNs (P = 0.0102). The ROD ratio of MTA1 to nm23H1 increased with the development of metastasis. No mutation of MTA1 and nm23H1 was found by SSCP analysis.

CONCLUSION

The mRNA expression of MTA1 and nm23H1 is positively and negatively correlated with LN metastasis, respectively. Expression abnormalities but not mutation of the two genes are frequent events related to LN metastasis of ovarian cancer.