Genetic alterations and protein expression of KIT and PDGFRA in serous ovarian carcinoma

• Published in: British journal of cancer Vol. 91; no. 12; pp. 2048 - 2055
• Main Authors: LASSUS, H, SIHTO, H, LEMINEN, A, NORDLING, S, JOENSUU, H, NUPPONEN, N. N, BUTZOW, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 13.12.2004
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Cancer research; Cancer therapies; Chemotherapy; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous - genetics; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous - metabolism; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous - pathology; Disease; Female; Female genital diseases; Gene amplification; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Kinases; Medical research; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Molecular and Cellular Pathology; Mutation; Neoplasm Staging; Ovarian Neoplasms - genetics; Ovarian Neoplasms - metabolism; Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology; Ovaries; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prognosis; Protein Array Analysis; Protein expression; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit - metabolism; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha - genetics; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha - metabolism; Tumors; Finland; PDGFRA; Ovary carcinoma; Kit protein; Malignant tumor; Female genital diseases; serous; Ovarian diseases; ovarian neoplasms; Cancerology; Cystadenocarcinoma; KIT; Serous carcinoma; Genetics; Mutation
• ISSN: 0007-0920; 1532-1827
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6602252

KIT and PDGFRA are receptor tyrosine kinases that can be specifically inactivated by small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, notably imatinib mesylate. In ovarian carcinoma, expression of KIT and PDGFRA protein has been documented, but the frequency and the molecular background of expression are poorly known. We analysed the expression of KIT and PDGFRA by immunohistochemistry in 522 serous ovarian carcinomas, and mutations of KIT and PDGFRA by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatographyin 125 and 187 serous ovarian carcinomas, respectively. No mutations of KIT or PDGFRA were detected. KIT expression was detected in 12% of carcinomas: low expression in 10% and high expression in 2% of cases. Using normal serous epithelium as a reference, decreased PDGFRA expression was detected in 12% and increased expression in 13% of carcinomas. Both KIT and PDGFRA expression were associated with high tumour grade, high proliferation index and poor patient outcome. By fluorescence in situ hybridisation, no KIT amplification was found in carcinomas with high KIT expression, but two cases showed a relative gain of chromosome 4. In conclusion, no mutations of KIT or PDGFRA were found, but a subset of serous ovarian carcinoma showed overexpression of the proteins, which was associated with aggressive tumour characteristics.