EGR1 and FOSB Gene Expressions in Cancer Stroma Are Independent Prognostic Indicators for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Receiving Standard Therapy
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GENES, CHROMOSOMES & CANCER 51:300–312 (2012) EGR1 and FOSB Gene Expressions in Cancer Stroma Are Independent Prognostic Indicators for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Receiving Standard Therapy Fumio Kataoka,1 Hiroshi Tsuda,1* Tokuzo Arao,2 Sadako Nishimura,3 Hideo Tanaka,1 Hiroyuki Nomura,1 Tatsuyuki Chiyoda,1 Akira Hirasawa,1 Tomoko Akahane,1 Hiroshi Nishio,1 Kazuto Nishio,2 and Daisuke Aoki1 1Departmentof Obstetrics and Gynecology,School of Medicine,Keio University,Tokyo,Japan 2Departmentof Genome Biology,Kinki University School of Medicine,Osaka,Japan 3Departmentof Obstetrics and Gynecology,Osaka City General Hospital,Osaka,Japan Stromal components interact with cancer cells to promote growth and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to iden- tify genes expressed in stroma, which could provide prognostic information in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Seventy- four patients were included. We performed gene expression profiling and confirmed array data using RT-PCR and immuno- histochemistry. By microarray analysis, 52 candidate genes associated with progression free survival (PFS) were identified (P < 0.005). Expression of the early growth response 1 (EGR1) and FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (FOSB) genes was further analyzed. Array data were confirmed by RT-PCR and multivariate analysis demonstrated that both EGR1 and FOSB expression in cancer stroma, and EGR1 expression in cancer are independent prognostic factors in EOC. Immunohistochemically, EGR1 protein is localized in cancer cells and a-smooth muscle actin positive stromal fibro- blasts. The EGR1 and FOSB expression in stromal cells and EGR1 expression in cancer cells are prognostic indicators in EOC. VC 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. INTRODUCTION ior, including invasion or metastasis and response Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a common to therapy (Bhowmick and Moses, 2005; Kim et al., cause of cancer death in women. Early diagnosis 2005; Tlsty and Coussens, 2006). However, the role of EOC is difficult because of a lack of specific of stromal cells in the development and progression symptoms so that 80% of patients are diagnosed of epithelial neoplasia has not been thoroughly at Stage III or IV. EOC is a relatively chemosen- investigated. Finak et al. used laser capture micro- sitive tumor, and 70% of advanced EOC (aEOC) dissection (LCM) to compare gene expression pro- patients treated by standard surgical procedures files of tumor stroma from 53 primary breast (bilateral adnexectomy þ hysterectomy þ greater cancers and established a new stroma-derived prog- omentectomy) with staging laparotomy and nostic predictor (SDPP) that stratifies disease out- debulking surgery, followed by postoperative come independently of standard clinical prognostic chemotherapy using a combination of platinum factors or published gene expression-based predic- and taxan, achieved a complete clinical response. tors (Finak et al., 2008). However, few studies have However, disease recurs in most patients within 2 examined the tumor–stroma interaction in clinical years after diagnosis and death is due to chemo- therapy-resistant tumor. If reliable predictive Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online markers could be established, patients who are version of this article. likely to relapse and die of disease are good can- Supported by: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, didates for clinical trials using new drugs. We Japan, Grant number: 20014024; A Grant-in Aid for scientific previously reported that the amplification of 8q24 Research (C) from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan; Grant number: 19591940; Osaka City General and 20q11-13 or 17q21-q24 can predict progres- Hospital. sion-free survival (PFS) in EOC and may be new *Correspondence to: Hiroshi Tsuda, MD, PhD, Department of predictive biomarkers for aEOC (Hirasawa et al., Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan. 2003; Tominaga et al., 2010). Cancer consists of Tel.: þ81-3-3353-1211 (Ext 61721). Fax: þ81-3-3353-0249. founder cancer cells and stroma, including blood E-mail: [email protected] and lymph endothelial cells, inflammatory cells, Received 20 June 2011; Accepted 27 October 2011 DOI 10.1002/gcc.21916 immunocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts. Published online 15 November 2011 in Stroma is thought to play a role in tumor behav- Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). VC 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. A STROMAL BIOMARKER IN OVARIAN CANCER 301 samples of EOC. Here, we microdissected cancer Study Design stroma from aEOC by LCM, performed expression Seventy-four aEOC samples were evaluated in profiling, and analyzed the relationship between this study. We performed microarray analysis on the expression profile pattern and prognosis. microdissected stroma from 24 aEOCs and genes of interest were evaluated in an independent set of 50 samples. PFS was predicted using the MATERIALS AND METHODS results of real-time PCR analysis. Patients and Samples Subjects eligible for this study were patients Microdissection, RNA Extraction, and with histologically confirmed Stage IIc–IV aEOC Amplification of RNA (excluding mucinous and clear cell types) receiv- Microdissection was performed as described ing standard therapy. Additional inclusion criteria (Tsuda et al., 2004, 2005). In brief, frozen sec- included an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group tions (6 lm) prepared from tumor tissue speci- performance status of 0–2. Clinical stage and his- mens were affixed to glass slides and stained by tologic grade were determined in accordance with HistogeneTM LCM Frozen Section Staining Kit the International Federation of Gynecology and (Arcturus Engineering, Mountain View, CA). Obstetrics (FIGO) systems. Undifferentiated his- Stained sections were microdissected using a Pix- tology was treated as Grade 3. Exclusion criteria Cell IIe LCM system (Arcturus Engineering). included a history of prior chemotherapy or major Tumor cells and adjacent non-tumor stromal cells surgery. All patients received standard surgery were visualized under the microscope and selec- and chemotherapy using carboplatin and pacli- tively detached by activation of the laser. Stromal taxel. Standard surgery means bilateral adnexec- tissues within 200 cells from the margin of tomy, hysterectomy, and greater omentectomy tumors were dissected in each case. Total RNA with staging laparotomy and debulking surgery. extraction was performed using the PicoPureTM Samples used for microarray analysis were from RNA Isolation Kit according to the manufac- 24 aEOC patients with a median age of 61 years turer’s instructions (Arcturus Engineering). RNA (range 41–80), 4 were Stage II, 14 Stage III, and was amplified using a modified single round T7 6 Stage IV. Three tumors were endometrioid, 17 RNA amplification protocol. In brief, total RNA serous, and 4 of undifferentiated histologic type, (600 ng) was first incubated with 1 llofT7 while 1 was histologic Grade G1, 7 G2, and 16 primer (50-GCATTAGCGGCCGCGAAATTAAT G3. Ten patients were of optimal and 14 of sub- ACGACTCACTATAGGGAGATTTTTTTTT optimal operation status. The median follow-up TTTTTTTTTVN-30, 200 ng/ll) in a total vol- period was 1,006 days (range: 339–2,283 days) ume of 50 ll for 3 min at 70C. First strand and seven patients are alive without relapse. cDNA synthesis was then performed by incubat- Fifty independent aEOC samples used for valida- ing 5 ll of primer-annealed sample and 5 llof tion by reverse transcription polymerase chain reac- first strand master mix containing 2 llof5Â first tion (RT-PCR) assay were from patients with a strand buffer, 1 ll of 0.1 M Dithiothreitol (DTT), median age of 54 years (range 29–80), 7 patients 0.5 ll of Diethyl polycarbonate (DEPC) water, were Stage II, 33 Stage III, and 10 Stage IV. Eleven 0.5 ll 10 mM deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate tumors were endometrioid, 31 serous, and 8 of undif- (dNTP) mix, 0.5 ll RNase Inhibitor, and 0.5 llof ferentiated histologic type while 2 were histologic Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus Reverse Tran- Grade G1, 16 G2, and 32 G3. Twenty-seven patients scriptase (MMLV) (200 U/ll)for1hand15minat were of optimal and 23 of suboptimal operation sta- 37C. Subsequently, second strand cDNA synthesis tus. The median follow-up period was 836 days was performed by incubating the10 ll first strand (range: 191–2,885 days) and 20 patients are alive reaction with 65 ll of second master mix, which without relapse. All cases are shown in Table 1. contained 46 llDEPCwater,15ll5Â second PFS was followed after the patients had strand buffer, 1.5 llof10mMdNTPmix,0.5ll received primary surgery. This study was approved of E. coli DNA Ligase (10 U/ll), 1.5 ll E. coli by the Institutional Review Board of the Osaka DNA polymerase I (10 U/ll), and 0.5 ll E. coli City General Hospital and School of Medicine, RNase H (2 U/ll), for 2 h at 16C,andthenfor Keio University and written informed consent was 15 min at 70C.Theentire75llcDNAsample obtained from all patients. Specimens obtained at was loaded onto a ChromaSpin TE-200 spin operation were immediately stored at À80C. column (BD Biosciences, San Diego, CA), which Genes, Chromosomes & Cancer DOI 10.1002/gcc 302 KATAOKA ET AL. TABLE 1. Clinical Background and EGR1 and FOSB Expression in All Cases Debulking EGR1s EGR1c EGR1s EGR1c FOSBs FOSBc Clinical No. Age Stage Histology Grade status PCR PCR IHC IHC PCR PCR outcome 1 55 4 ECC 3 Optimal prog 2 52 3c SEC 3 Suboptimal