OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of AIB1 (amplified in breast cancer 1) protein in epithelial ovarian cancer cells and to analyze the relationship between AIB1 protein and the apoptosis modulated proteins: P53 and Bcl-2. METHODS: The expressions of AIB1, P53 and Bcl-2 proteins in 24 normal ovaries, 24 benign ovarian tumors, 18 borderline ovarian tumors and 69 epithelial ovarian cancers were examined with immunohistochemical method SP. The expressions of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were also examined to reveal their relation with AIB1 expression. RESULTS: 1) The AIB1 protein expressed in 65.22% ovarian cancers, greater than in normal ovaries (8.33%), benign ovarian tumors (25.00%) and borderline ovarian tumors (38.89%). The overexpression of AIB1 protein occurred in 36.23% ovarian cancers. Ovarian cancers poorly-differentiated, at a late clinical stage and with lymph node involvement had higher AIB1 overexpression than those well-differentiated and moderately-differentiated, and those at an early clinical stage and without lymph node involvement. 2) The expression of AIB1 was positively correlated with the expression of P53 (r = 0.342, P = 0.004) and Bcl-2 proteins (r = 0.311, P = 0.009) in the ovarian cancers. There was no correlations between the AIB1 expression and the ER and PR. CONCLUSION: AIB1 protein expression increases in ovarian cancers, which is associated with the higher malignant biological behavior. The overexpression of AIB1 may be involved in the carcinogenesis and the development of epithelial ovarian cancers through a hormone independent pathway. Our findings suggest a possible correlation between AIB1 and apoptosis modulated proteins P53 and Bcl-2.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of AIB1 (amplified in breast cancer 1) protein in epithelial ovarian cancer cells and to analyze the relationship between AIB1 protein and the apoptosis modulated proteins: P53 and Bcl-2. METHODS: The expressions of AIB1, P53 and Bcl-2 proteins in 24 normal ovaries, 24 benign ovarian tumors, 18 borderline ovarian tumors and 69 epithelial ovarian cancers were examined with immunohistochemical method SP. The expressions of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were also examined to reveal their relation with AIB1 expression. RESULTS: 1) The AIB1 protein expressed in 65.22% ovarian cancers, greater than in normal ovaries (8.33%), benign ovarian tumors (25.00%) and borderline ovarian tumors (38.89%). The overexpression of AIB1 protein occurred in 36.23% ovarian cancers. Ovarian cancers poorly-differentiated, at a late clinical stage and with lymph node involvement had higher AIB1 overexpression than those well-differentiated and moderately-differentiated, and those at an early clinical stage and without lymph node involvement. 2) The expression of AIB1 was positively correlated with the expression of P53 (r = 0.342, P = 0.004) and Bcl-2 proteins (r = 0.311, P = 0.009) in the ovarian cancers. There was no correlations between the AIB1 expression and the ER and PR. CONCLUSION:AIB1 protein expression increases in ovarian cancers, which is associated with the higher malignant biological behavior. The overexpression of AIB1 may be involved in the carcinogenesis and the development of epithelial ovarian cancers through a hormone independent pathway. Our findings suggest a possible correlation between AIB1 and apoptosis modulated proteins P53 and Bcl-2.