A prognostic gene signature in advanced ovarian cancer reveals a microfibril-associated protein (MAGP2) as a promoter of tumor cell survival and angiogenesis.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer, and this is largely related to its late diagnosis. High grade serous cancers often initially respond to chemotherapy, resulting in a better survival rate, compared to other ovarian carcinoma subtypes. We review recent work identifying a survival-associated gene expression profile for advanced serous ovarian cancer. Within this signature, the authors identified MAGP2, also known as microfibrillar associated protein 5 (MFAP5), as a highly significant indicator of survival and chemosensitivity. MAGP2 is a multifunctional secreted protein--important for elastic microfibril assembly and modulating endothelial cell behavior--with a newly identified role in cell survival. Through alpha(V)beta(3) integrin-mediated signaling, MAGP2 promotes tumor and endothelial cell survival and endothelial cell motility, providing a potential mechanistic link between MAGP2 and angiogenesis as well as patient survival.