Objective: To explore the expression and role of glucose-regulated protein 78 in ovarian serous adenocarcinoma.
Methods: The surgical specimens were collected from 126 cases of serous ovarian tumors and 30 cases of normal ovarian tissue. And the mRNA and protein expressions of GRP78 were detected by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot.
Results: The results of immunohistochemistry showed that GRP78 positive cells in ovarian serous adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than those in normal ovarian and ovarian serous cystadenoma tissues (P < 0.05). In ovarian serous adenocarcinoma, GRP78 expression was not associated with pathological grade, age and clinical staging (P > 0.05). And the mRNA expressions of GRP78 in normal ovarian tissue, ovarian serous cystadenoma and ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma were 0.134 ± 0.021, 0.121 ± 0.032 and 0.685 ± 0.085 respectively. Protein expressions of GRP78 in normal ovarian tissue, ovarian serous cystadenoma and ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma were 0.211 ± 0.042, 0.193 ± 0.032 and 0.770 ± 0.074 respectively. GRP78 mRNA and protein expression had no difference between different pathological grades of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: GRP78 is highly expressed in ovarian serous adenocarcinoma. And its differential expression between ovarian benign and malignant tumors is significant and correlated with the occurrence and progression of ovarian cancer.