Immunolocalization of nuclear transcription factors, DAX-1 and Ad4BP/SF-1, in human common epithelial ovarian tumors: correlations with StAR and steroidogenic enzymes in epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2005 Apr;24(2):153-63. doi: 10.1097/01.pgp.0000155075.75209.42.

Abstract

Intratumoral steroidogenesis is considered to play important roles in the biologic behavior of common epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Recent studies have demonstrated the important roles of Ad4BP/SF-1 and DAX-1 in regulation of steroidogenesis. In this study, we evaluated DAX-1, Ad4BP/SF-1, StAR, and steroidogenic enzyme expressions and their correlations in epithelial ovarian carcinomas to evaluate the possible roles of these factors in regulation of intratumoral steroid metabolism and/or production. Immunolocalization of DAX-1, Ad4BP/SF-1, StAR, and steroidogenic enzymes were examined in 90 epithelial ovarian carcinomas. mRNA expression of these proteins was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 23 cases for further characterization. DAX-1 and Ad4BP/SF-1 immunoreactivity was detected predominately in the nuclei of tumor cells, whereas that of StAR and steroidogenic enzymes was present in the cytoplasm. We detected a significant positive correlation between StAR and steroidogenic enzymes immunoreactivity and Ad4BP/SF-1 and statistically inversed correlation with DAX-1. A positive statistical correlation was detected between intratumoral stromal Ad4BP/SF-1 immunoreactivity and clinicopathologic parameters of carcinoma patients. Results of real-time PCR analysis were correlated with those of immunohistochemical studies. The status of intratumoral DAX-1, Ad4BP/SF-1, and StAR and steroidogenic enzymes in epithelial cells and intratumoral stromal cells of epithelial ovarian carcinoma may contribute in the progression and/or aggressiveness of these tumors.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Enzymes / metabolism
  • Female
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Steroidogenic Factor 1
  • Steroids / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Enzymes
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • NR0B1 protein, human
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Steroidogenic Factor 1
  • Steroids
  • Transcription Factors
  • steroidogenic acute regulatory protein