PTEN and IGFBP-3 Correlation in Ovarian Carcinoma Invasion

We have identified insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 as an invasion suppressor gene in ovarian endometrioid carcinoma, and showed association with lower cancer migration, invasion and metastasis. Recently, a novel model of ovarian EC formation from endometriosis was reported, and PTEN was found to be a major protein involved. Inactivation of PTEN has been reported in some ovarian EC tumors and methylation was suggested as one of the major epigenetic changes. This tumorigenesis model has lots of similarity to our established invasion model. Therefore, we plan to study the important of PTEN expression in ovarian EC and if inactivation of PTEN and IFGBP-3 is through methylation. Furthermore, by studying the signal transduction pathways using PTEN and IGFBP-3 transfection, we plan to study the mutual interaction between PTEN and IGFBP-3 on the suppression of tumor invasion in ovarian EC.