Pilot study of CD147 protein expression in epithelial ovarian cancer using monoclonal antibody 12C3

Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) expression correlates positively with active angiogenesis and negatively with basic fibroblast growth factor expression in epithelial ovarian cancer

Purpose

The primary aim of this paper was to evaluate the expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) and its relationship with proangiogenic factors and microvessel density (MVD) in ovarian cancer.

Methods

The study group included 58 epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs), 35 benign ovarian tumors, and 21 normal ovaries. The expression of EMMPRIN, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was assessed by ELISA of tissue homogenates. Antibodies against CD105, CD31, and CD34 were used to immunohistochemically assess MVD.

Results

We have found significantly higher EMMPRIN expression in EOC than in benign ovarian tumors and normal ovaries. Similarly, the VEGF expression was higher in EOC than in benign ovarian tumors and normal ovaries. By contrast, bFGF expression was lower in EOC than in benign ovarian tumors and ovary samples. EMMPRIN expression in EOC was directly correlated with VEGF expression and CD105-MVD, but inversely correlated with bFGF expression. Grade 2/3 ovarian cancers had increased expression of EMMPRIN and VEGF, increased CD105-MVD, and lowered expression of bFGF compared to grade 1 ovarian cancers. Moreover, EMMPRIN expression was higher in advanced (FIGO III and IV) ovarian cancer.

Conclusions

The upregulation of EMMPRIN and VEGF expression is correlated with increased CD105-MVD and silenced bFGF, which suggests early and/or reactivated angiogenesis in ovarian cancer. Aggressive EOC is characterized by the following: high expression of EMMPRIN and VEGF, high CD105-MVD, and low expression of bFGF.

Prognostic significance of CD147 in patients with glioblastoma

CD147, also known as extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer, is a widely distributed cell surface glycoprotein that belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. CD147 has been proved to be enriched on the surface of many tumor cells, promoting tumor growth, invasion and metastasis by its stimulation effect on adjacent fibroblasts to produce matrix metalloproteinases. In this study, we aimed to explore the expression pattern of CD147 in glioblastoma (GBM) and investigate whether it could be used to assess subsequent prognosis of patients. For that, we recruited a total of 206 patients with pathologically confirmed GBM and 36 normal control brain tissue specimens. The expression of CD147 in GBM and normal tissues was investigated by immunohistochemistry assay. Genetic factors including MGMT and IDH1 mutation were also investigated to justify the prognostic significance of CD147. Results showed that CD147 expression was increased in GBM compared with that in normal tissues. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that increased CD147 expression was associated with poor overall survival of patients with GBM. Moreover, Cox's proportional hazards model revealed that CD147 expression was an independent and significant prognostic marker of overall survival in GBM patients. These results proved that CD147 expression was relatively abundant in GBM and can be potentially used to predict prognosis and treatment response in GBM patients.

CD147 in ovarian and other cancers

Ovarian cancer, a gynecological malignancy, is the most common cause of death in older women worldwide. The overall 5-year survival of ovarian cancer patients is only 20% because of late diagnosis, as well as distant metastasis and multidrug resistance. Therefore, predictive and prognostic markers are urgently required for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. CD147, an extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer, is overexpressed in ovarian cancers. Current knowledge suggests that CD147 is associated with the survival and progression of ovarian cancer, and is considered as a biomarker of poor outcome. Here, we specifically review the roles of CD147 in ovarian cancer progression and discuss the diagnostic and prognostic value of CD147 in patients with ovarian cancer. CD147 promotes ovarian cancer progression by its involvement in every facet of malignancy, including invasion, metastasis, survival, angiogenesis, and drug resistance. Although it is not fully confirmed, the combination of CD147 with other biomarkers might be of diagnostic value.

Basigin-2 is the predominant basigin isoform that promotes tumor cell migration and invasion and correlates with poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer

Background

Basigin, which has four isoforms, has been demonstrated to be involved in progression of various human cancers. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value of basigin-2 protein expression in epithelial ovarian cancer. Furthermore, the function of basigin-2 in ovarian cancer was further investigated in cell culture models.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to investigate basigin-2 expression in a total of 146 ovarian tissue specimens. Kaplan Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were applied to assess the relationship between basigin-2 and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Real-time PCR, RT-PCR and western blot were used to explore basigin-2, basigin-3 and basigin-4 expression in ovarian cancer cell lines and tissues. To evaluate possible contributions of basigin-2 to MMP secretion and cell migration and invasion, the overexpression vectors pcDNA3.1-basigin-2 and basigin-2 siRNA were transfected into HO-8910 and HO-8910 PM cells respectively.

Results

High basigin-2 expression was associated with lymph-vascular space involvement, lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. Multivariate analyses indicated that basigin-2 positivity was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (P = 0.006) and OS (P = 0.019), respectively. Overexpression of basigin-2 increased the secretion of MMP-2/9 and cancer cell migration and invasion of HO-8910 cells, whereas knockdown of basigin-2 reduced active MMP-2/9 production, migration and invasion of HO-8910 PM cells.

Conclusions

The expression of basigin-2 might be an independent prognostic marker and basigin-2 inhibition would be a potential strategy for epithelial ovarian cancer patients, especially in inhibiting and preventing cancer cell invasion and metastasis.