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Differential expression of Fas family members and Bcl-2 family members in benign versus malignant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in North Indian population

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Abstract

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) represents the most challenging of gynecological malignancies. Defective apoptosis is a major causative factor in the development and progression of cancer. The two important pathways of apoptosis are extrinsic death receptor pathway (Fas family) and intrinsic mitochondrial pathway (Bcl-2 family). In this study, differential protein expression of the major Fas family members (Fas, FasL, and FAP-1) and Bcl-2 family members (Bax, Bcl-2, and Bcl-XL) in benign versus malignant surface epithelial ovarian tumors was evaluated at the protein level by immunohistochemistry. The expression of these molecules was compared in 30 benign versus 35 malignant surface epithelial ovarian tumors. The findings of the present study showed that there was no significant difference in the expression of the Fas family members in benign and malignant ovarian tumors. However, benign tumors showed higher levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein levels (p < 0.009), whereas malignant tumors showed higher levels of pro-apoptotic Bax (p < 0.001). In general, there was no significant difference in Bcl-XL protein levels. The observations made in the present study suggest that alterations in expression of the Fas family and the Bcl-2 family members occur and play a key role in the deregulated growth of epithelial ovarian cancer.

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Acknowledgments

Parvesh Chaudhry was funded by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Grant No.: 3/1/JRF/37/MPD/02.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiotherapy, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

    Parvesh Chaudhry & Firuza D. Patel

  2. Department of Cytology and Gynecology Pathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

    Radhika Srinivasan

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  1. Parvesh Chaudhry
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  2. Radhika Srinivasan
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  3. Firuza D. Patel
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Correspondence to Parvesh Chaudhry.

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Chaudhry, P., Srinivasan, R. & Patel, F.D. Differential expression of Fas family members and Bcl-2 family members in benign versus malignant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in North Indian population. Mol Cell Biochem 368, 119–126 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-012-1350-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-012-1350-7

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