BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can induce angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis of tumors; while endostatin has opposite functions. This study was designed to explore the expression of endostatin and VEGF in epithelial ovarian cancer, and investigate their correlations to oncogenesis and progression of ovarian cancer.

METHODS

The mRNA and protein levels of endostatin and VEGF in 63 samples of epithelial ovarian cancer and 19 samples of normal ovarian tissue were detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The mRNA levels and positive rates of endostatin and VEGF proteins were significantly higher in epithelial ovarian cancer than in normal ovarian tissue (P<0.05), and were significantly higher in stage III-IV ovarian cancer than in stage I-II ovarian cancer (P<0.05). Positive rate of endostatin protein was significantly lower in endostatin mRNA level of < or =0.5 group than in endostatin mRNA level of >0.5 group (29.4% vs. 77.8%, P<0.05); positive rate of VEGF protein was significantly lower in VEGF mRNA level of < or =0.5 group than in VEGF mRNA level of >0.5 group (25.0% vs. 72.0%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The changes in mRNA levels of endostatin and VEGF in epithelial ovarian cancer are accordant to the changes in positive rates of the proteins. The imbalance between VEGF and endostatin may be related with tumorigenesis and development of epithelial ovarian cancer.