X Xie1, D Ye, H Chen, W Lu, B Cheng, H Zhong. 1. Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. xiex@mail.hz.zj.cn
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) secretion of interleukin-7 (IL-7). METHODS: Levels of IL-7 were assayed by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay and IL-7 mRNA, and protein expression in tissues and cell lines were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The median serum IL-7 level in patients with EOC (32 cases; 32.49 pg/ml) was significantly higher than that of patients with benign tumors (16 cases; 7.59 pg/ml) and healthy women (16 cases; 10.64 pg/ml) (P<0.05). The median peritoneal fluid IL-7 level in patients with EOC (17.39 pg/ml) was slightly higher than that of patients with benign tumors (14.09 pg/ml), but not significantly so (P>0.05). There were positive correlations between the serum and peritoneal fluid IL-7 levels in both ovarian cancer and benign group (P<0.05, both). Only two EOC specimens expressed IL-7 mRNA, and no IL-7 protein positive was found in any specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells rarely express IL-7, and IL-7 levels are decreased in the ascitic fluid of patients with EOC.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) secretion of interleukin-7 (IL-7). METHODS: Levels of IL-7 were assayed by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay and IL-7 mRNA, and protein expression in tissues and cell lines were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The median serum IL-7 level in patients with EOC (32 cases; 32.49 pg/ml) was significantly higher than that of patients with benign tumors (16 cases; 7.59 pg/ml) and healthy women (16 cases; 10.64 pg/ml) (P<0.05). The median peritoneal fluid IL-7 level in patients with EOC (17.39 pg/ml) was slightly higher than that of patients with benign tumors (14.09 pg/ml), but not significantly so (P>0.05). There were positive correlations between the serum and peritoneal fluid IL-7 levels in both ovarian cancer and benign group (P<0.05, both). Only two EOC specimens expressed IL-7 mRNA, and no IL-7 protein positive was found in any specimens. CONCLUSIONS:Epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells rarely express IL-7, and IL-7 levels are decreased in the ascitic fluid of patients with EOC.