Number of polyploid giant cancer cells and expression of EZH2 are associated with VM formation and tumor grade in human ovarian tumor

Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:903542. doi: 10.1155/2014/903542. Epub 2014 Jun 15.

Abstract

To investigate the associations among the number of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) and vasculogenic mimicry (VM), EZH2 expression, and serous ovarian tumor grade, a total of 80 paraffin-embedded serous ovarian tumor samples including 21 cases of primary carcinoma and their metastatic tumors, 26 cases of primary carcinoma without metastasis, and 12 cases of serous borderline cystadenoma were analyzed. PGCCs and VM were detected in human serous ovarian tumor. The metastatic foci of ovarian carcinoma had the highest number of PGCCs and VM. The number of PGCCs and VM increased with the grade of ovarian carcinomas. PGCCs generated erythrocytes via budding and together they formed VM. Tumor cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts were positive for EZH2 immunohistochemical staining. The tumor cells and cancer associated fibroblasts in the metastatic foci had the highest staining index of EZH2 staining. Both tumor cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts express EZH2 which then contributes to the malignant grade of serous ovarian tumor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma / genetics*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cystadenoma, Serous / genetics*
  • Cystadenoma, Serous / pathology
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Giant Cells / metabolism
  • Giant Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / biosynthesis*
  • Polyploidy

Substances

  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2