Project description:Ovarian cancer patients are generally diagnosed at stage III/IV, when ascites is common. The volume of ascites positively correlates with the extent of metastasis and negatively with prognosis. Membrane GRP78, a stress-inducible endoplasmic reticulum chaperone which also appears on the plasma membrane (memGRP78) of aggressive cancers, plays a crucial role in the maintenance of embryonic stem cells. Our present study demonstrates that tumor cells isolated from ascites generated by epithelial ovarian cancer (ID8 cells) bearing mice have increased memGRP78 expression compared to ID8 cells in normal culture. We hypothesize that these ascites associated memGRP78+ cells are cancer stem-like cells (CSC) and memGRP78 is functionally important in CSCs. Supporting this hypothesis, we show that memGRP78+ cells isolated from ascites have increased sphere forming and tumor initiating abilities compared to memGRP78- cells. When the tumor microenvironment is recapitulated by adding ascites fluid to cell culture, ID8 cells express more memGRP78 and increased self-renewing ability compared to those cultured in medium alone. Moreover, compared to their counterparts cultured in normal medium, ID8 cells cultured in ascites, or isolated from ascites, show an increased expression of stem cell markers Sca-1, Snail and SOX9. Importantly, antibodies directed against the carboxy (COOH)-terminal domain of GRP78 significantly reduce the self-renewing ability of murine and human ovarian cancer cells pre-incubated with ascites, associated with a decreased phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3α, and reduced level of the transcriptional factor Snail. Based on this data, we suggest that memGRP78 is a logical therapeutic target for late stage ovarian cancer. Two types of ovarian cancer cells from different organ sites are profiled by gene expression. Parental cells (ID8) and ID8 cells which have metastasized to Ascites (AS).
Project description:Ovarian cancer patients are generally diagnosed at stage III/IV, when ascites is common. The volume of ascites positively correlates with the extent of metastasis and negatively with prognosis. Membrane GRP78, a stress-inducible endoplasmic reticulum chaperone which also appears on the plasma membrane (memGRP78) of aggressive cancers, plays a crucial role in the maintenance of embryonic stem cells. Our present study demonstrates that tumor cells isolated from ascites generated by epithelial ovarian cancer (ID8 cells) bearing mice have increased memGRP78 expression compared to ID8 cells in normal culture. We hypothesize that these ascites associated memGRP78+ cells are cancer stem-like cells (CSC) and memGRP78 is functionally important in CSCs. Supporting this hypothesis, we show that memGRP78+ cells isolated from ascites have increased sphere forming and tumor initiating abilities compared to memGRP78- cells. When the tumor microenvironment is recapitulated by adding ascites fluid to cell culture, ID8 cells express more memGRP78 and increased self-renewing ability compared to those cultured in medium alone. Moreover, compared to their counterparts cultured in normal medium, ID8 cells cultured in ascites, or isolated from ascites, show an increased expression of stem cell markers Sca-1, Snail and SOX9. Importantly, antibodies directed against the carboxy (COOH)-terminal domain of GRP78 significantly reduce the self-renewing ability of murine and human ovarian cancer cells pre-incubated with ascites, associated with a decreased phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3α, and reduced level of the transcriptional factor Snail. Based on this data, we suggest that memGRP78 is a logical therapeutic target for late stage ovarian cancer.
Project description:To identify the potential ovarian cancer stem cell gene expression profile from isolated side population of fresh ascites obtained from women with high-grade advanced stage papillary serous ovarian adenocarcinoma Microarrays were used to interrogate the differentially expressed genes between side population (SP) and main population (MP) isolated from fresh ascites obtained from women with high-grade advanced stage papillary serous ovarian adenocarcinoma, and the results were analyzed by paired T-test using BRB-ArrayTools
Project description:To identify the potential ovarian cancer stem cell gene expression profile from isolated side population of fresh ascites obtained from women with high-grade advanced stage papillary serous ovarian adenocarcinoma Microarrays were used to interrogate the differentially expressed genes between side population (SP) and main population (MP) isolated from fresh ascites obtained from women with high-grade advanced stage papillary serous ovarian adenocarcinoma, and the results were analyzed by paired T-test using BRB-ArrayTools Gene expression profiling was completed for 10 SP and MP pairs using the Affymetrix human U133 Plus 2.0 Arrays
Project description:Differential transcriptome signature of FACS purified cell population (EpiCAM/CD45 dual positive cells vs EpiCAM only) from the ascites of human serous ovarian cancer. Primary objective: To characterize the phenotypic expression of stem cells markers, elucidation of differential gene expression and oncogenic functions in EpiCAM/CD45 dual positive vs EpiCAM cells. Methods: Cell Sorting (FACS) from ascites of human serous ovarian cancer patients, apoptotic assay, Drug sensitivity assay, tumor spheroid assay, Cell invasion and cell migration assay.
Project description:PURPOSE: To provide a detailed gene expression profile of the normal postnatal mouse cornea. METHODS: Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was performed on postnatal day (PN)9 and adult mouse (6 week) total corneas. The expression of selected genes was analyzed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A total of 64,272 PN9 and 62,206 adult tags were sequenced. Mouse corneal transcriptomes are composed of at least 19,544 and 18,509 unique mRNAs, respectively. One third of the unique tags were expressed at both stages, whereas a third was identified exclusively in PN9 or adult corneas. Three hundred thirty-four PN9 and 339 adult tags were enriched more than fivefold over other published nonocular libraries. Abundant transcripts were associated with metabolic functions, redox activities, and barrier integrity. Three members of the Ly-6/uPAR family whose functions are unknown in the cornea constitute more than 1% of the total mRNA. Aquaporin 5, epithelial membrane protein and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) omega-1, and GST alpha-4 mRNAs were preferentially expressed in distinct corneal epithelial layers, providing new markers for stratification. More than 200 tags were differentially expressed, of which 25 mediate transcription. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to providing a detailed profile of expressed genes in the PN9 and mature mouse cornea, the present SAGE data demonstrate dynamic changes in gene expression after eye opening and provide new probes for exploring corneal epithelial cell stratification, development, and function and for exploring the intricate relationship between programmed and environmentally induced gene expression in the cornea. Keywords: other
Project description:Microarrays were used to examine gene expression changes in the surgical resections of high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients exhibiting clinically distinct levels of ascites volume. The present studies primary aim was to determine if there is a molecular gene expression difference between the patients presenting at time of surgery when high volumes ascites cases were compared to those with low volume ascites. The secondary aim was to determine what relevance this difference, if found, has to previously discovered molecular sub-types of high grade serous ovarian cancer. Total RNA obtained from snap-frozen stage III-IV high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients presenting with low volume (<=200 cc) or high volume (>=1000 cc) ascites volume.