Objective: To investigate the expression and correlation of KiSS-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaBp65 proteins in primary epithelial ovarian tumors.
Methods: Expression of KiSS-1, MMP-9, NF-kappaBp65 proteins in primary ovarian epithelial tumors (malignant n = 50, borderline tumor n = 20, benign adenoma n = 20, normal tissue n = 10) was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining.
Results: Expression of metastin protein in primary epithelial ovarian cancers was significantly higher than that in ovarian benign adenoma (P < 0.05) and normal tissues (P < 0.05). Expression of metastin protein in ovarian borderline tumors was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P < 0.05). Expression of metastin protein in ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with node metastasis (P < 0.05). However, Metastin protein expression was not correlated with different histological classifications (P > 0.05), differentiation grade (P > 0.05) and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (P > 0.05). MMP-9 protein was positive in 68% (34/50) of the epithelial ovarian cancers, significantly higher than that in normal tissues (20%, 2/10; P < 0.05). NF-kappaBp65 protein was positive in 72% (36/50) of the epithelial ovarian cancers, significantly higher than that in ovarian benign adenoma (30%, 6/20; P < 0.05) and normal tissues (10%, 1/10; P < 0.05). The expression of MMP-9 protein in epithelial ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with FIGO stage (P < 0.05) and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). However, MMP-9 protein expression was not correlated with different histological classifications (P > 0.05) and differentiation grade (P > 0.05). The expression of NF-kappaBp65 protein in epithelial ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with FIGO stage (P < 0.05), differentiation grade (P < 0.05) and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). However, NF-kappaBp65 protein expression was not correlated with different histological classifications (P > 0.05). There was obviously negative correlation between KiSS-1 and MMP-9 expression in ovarian cancer (rs = -0.547, P < 0.05), as well as between KiSS-1 and NF-kappaBp65 expression in ovarian cancer (rs = -0.414, P < 0.05), while there was obviously positive correlation between MMP-9 and NF-kappaBp65 expression in ovarian cancer (rs = 0.695, P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The results indicate that KiSS-1 plays some role in suppression of the metastasis of ovarian epithelial cancers, which may be through inhibiting the expression of MMP-9 and NF-kappaBp65.