VCAM1 expression correlated with tumorigenesis and poor prognosis in high grade serous ovarian cancer.

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.