BACKGROUND: Proprotein convertases (PCs) are serine proteases that after restricted proteolysis activate many proteins that play a crucial role in cancer such as metalloproteinases, growth factors and growth factor receptors, adhesion molecules, and angiogenic factors. Although the expression of several PCs is increased in many tumors, their expression in primary ovarian tumors has not been studied in detail. We sought to determine if there was an association between the expression of the ubiquitously expressed PCs, furin, PACE-4, PC-5 and PC-7, and ovarian tumor progression. METHODS: We assessed their expression by RT-PCR, Real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry using cells derived from normal human ovarian surface epithelium (HOSE) and cancer cell lines as well as ovarian epithelial cancer specimens (45 RT-PCR/Real-time PCR, and 120 archival specimens for Immunohistochemistry). RESULTS: We found that furin expression was restricted to the cancer cell lines. In contrast, PACE-4 and PC-7 showed expression only in normal HOSE cells lines. Furthermore, furin was predominantly expressed in primary tumors from patients who survived for less than five years. The other PCs are either expressed in the group of survivors (PC-7 and PACE4) or expressed in low amounts (PC-5). CONCLUSIONS: Our studies point to a clear relationship between furin and ovarian cancer. In addition, these results show that furin exhibits the closest association with ovarian cancer among the ubiquitously expressed PCs, arguing against the redundancy of these proteases. In summary, furin may constitute a marker for ovarian tumor progression and could contribute to predict the outcome of this disease.
BACKGROUND: Proprotein convertases (PCs) are serine proteases that after restricted proteolysis activate many proteins that play a crucial role in cancer such as metalloproteinases, growth factors and growth factor receptors, adhesion molecules, and angiogenic factors. Although the expression of several PCs is increased in many tumors, their expression in primary ovarian tumors has not been studied in detail. We sought to determine if there was an association between the expression of the ubiquitously expressed PCs, furin, PACE-4, PC-5 and PC-7, and ovarian tumor progression. METHODS: We assessed their expression by RT-PCR, Real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry using cells derived from normal human ovarian surface epithelium (HOSE) and cancer cell lines as well as ovarian epithelial cancer specimens (45 RT-PCR/Real-time PCR, and 120 archival specimens for Immunohistochemistry). RESULTS: We found that furin expression was restricted to the cancer cell lines. In contrast, PACE-4 and PC-7 showed expression only in normal HOSE cells lines. Furthermore, furin was predominantly expressed in primary tumors from patients who survived for less than five years. The other PCs are either expressed in the group of survivors (PC-7 and PACE4) or expressed in low amounts (PC-5). CONCLUSIONS: Our studies point to a clear relationship between furin and ovarian cancer. In addition, these results show that furin exhibits the closest association with ovarian cancer among the ubiquitously expressed PCs, arguing against the redundancy of these proteases. In summary, furin may constitute a marker for ovarian tumor progression and could contribute to predict the outcome of this disease.
Authors: François D'Anjou; Sophie Routhier; Jean-Pierre Perreault; Alain Latil; David Bonnel; Isabelle Fournier; Michel Salzet; Robert Day Journal: Transl Oncol Date: 2011-06-01 Impact factor: 4.243
Authors: Bruno Ramos-Molina; Adam N Lick; Elias H Blanco; J Alejandro Posada-Salgado; Karina Martinez-Mayorga; Alan T Johnson; Guan-Sheng Jiao; Iris Lindberg Journal: Biochem Pharmacol Date: 2015-05-21 Impact factor: 5.858
Authors: Katarzyna Gawlik; Albert G Remacle; Sergey A Shiryaev; Vladislav S Golubkov; Mingxing Ouyang; Yingxiao Wang; Alex Y Strongin Journal: PLoS One Date: 2010-06-24 Impact factor: 3.240