To clarify the possible roles of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (TROP-1/Ep-CAM) and CD24 molecule (CD24) in ovarian tumorigenesis, and explore the possible mechanism underlying this disease. Recombinant eukaryotic expression vectors pCIneo-TROP-1/Ep-CAM and pCIneo-CD24 were transfected into human normal ovarian surface epithelia cell line IOSE-80 respectively, with IOSE-80 cells transfected with the empty vector pCIneo as control. MRNA and protein expression of TROP-1/Ep-CAM and CD24 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Cell migration was assayed by trans-well inserts; cell proliferation and adhesion were analyzed by CCK-8 Cell Counting kit; cell cycle and cell apoptosis analysis were performed by flow cytometer. The expressions of TROP-1/Ep-CAM and CD24 were obviously up-regulated in TROP-1/Ep-CAM group and CD24 group compared to that in control group (P<0.01). Cells of TROP-1/Ep-CAM group and CD24 group was significantly promoted migratory and proliferation abilities, but inhibited cell apoptosis and adhesive than that of control group (P<0.05). Besides, the number of the cells in G1 and G2 stages was significantly lower in two disease groups than that in control group (P<0.05). TROP-1/Ep-CAM and CD24 may play key roles in the progression of ovarian cancer through promoting migration, proliferation, inhibiting cell apoptosis and adhesion, and disturbing cell cycle. They may be used as specific therapeutic targets in the treatment of ovarian cancer. However, further experiments are still needed to confirm our results.
Keywords: CD24; Ovarian cancer; TROP-1/Ep-CAM; apoptosis; cell migration.