The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) is becoming recognized as a master regulator of tumorigenesis, yet its role in gynecological cancers remains mostly unexplored. We investigated whether there is a gradation of RANK protein and mRNA expression in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) according to malignancy and tumor staging. Immunohistochemical expression of RANK was examined in a cohort of 135 (benign n = 29, borderline n= 23 and malignant n = 83) EOCs. Wild type and truncated RANK mRNA isoform quantification was performed in a cohort of 168 (benign n = 26, borderline n = 13 and malignant n = 129) EOCs. RANK protein and mRNA values were increased in malignant vs. benign or borderline conditions across serous, mucinous and endometrioid cancer subtypes. Additionally, a trend of increased RANK values with staging was observed for the mucinous and serous histotype. Thus, increased expression of RANK appears associated with the evolution of disease to the onset of malignancy in EOC. Moreover, in some EOC histotypes, RANK expression is additionally associated with clinicopathological markers of tumor aggressiveness, suggesting a role in further progression of tumor activity.
Keywords: RANK; epithelial ovarian cancers; immunohistochemistry; tumor stage, tumor grade.