Tag Archives: ovarian cancer

The role of microRNA-613 and its related genes in ovarian cancer

M. M. Mohammed, M. M. Ramzy*, S. S. Gaber,
H. A. Mohamed, M. R. Mohamed, A. M. Abdalla

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt;
*e-mail: maggiemaher24@gmail.com

Received: 19 October 2022; Revised: 25 November 2022;
Accepted: 17 February 2023; Available on-line: 27 February 2023

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological cancer. Multiple genetic and epigenetic abnormalities have been detected in ovarian cancers. As microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in carcinogenesis, numerous researchers aim to determine the molecular mechanism that regulates the cancer cells proliferation and metastasis. In the current study, the expression of microRNA-613 and related KRAS and Ezrin genes was assessed by Real-time PCR in ovarian cancer tissue and the adjacent apparently normal tissues. Our results revealed that the expression of miRNA-613 was downregulated in ovarian cancer while the expression of KRAS and Ezrin was higher in cancer tissues compared to apparently normal ovarian tissues. There was a negative correlation between the expression of miRNA-613 and both KRAS and Ezrin genes expression and a positive correlation between KRAS and Ezrin gene expression. The results obtained confirm that miRNA-613 acts as a tumor-suppressive gene in ovarian cancer and can realize such impact through the expression of KRAS and Ezrin genes. These data contribute to the identification of potential biomarkers and novel targets for OC early detection and treatment.

Evaluation of serum adenosine deaminase and its isoenzymes in patients with ovarian cancer

A. Asadi1, S. M. Atyabi2, S. Sadeghi3, S. Khatami3,  M. Ebrahimi-Rad3, S. Valadbeigi3, R. Saghiri3

1Islamic Azad University North Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran;
2Nanotechnology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran;
e-mail: m_atiyabi@pasteur.ac.ir;
3Biochemistry Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran;
e-mail: saghiri@pasteur.ac.ir

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer worldwide. There are great relationships between the activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA), one of the enzymes in purine nucleotide pathway and carcinogenic process.  In the present study the activities of the total ADA, ADA1 and ADA2 were measured in the sera of the patients with ovarian cancer. In this study, activities of tADA, ADA1 and ADA2 were assessed in sera of 30 patients with ovarian cancer and 30 normal control individuals, using a modified Ellis method in which only ADA2 activity was measured in the present of a specific inhibitor, erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA). Our results showed that the tADA, ADA1, and ADA2 serum activities of patients were found to be significantly increased (P < 0.05) than those of healthy control group. Although, ADA and its isoenzymes were not the specific markers for diagnosis of ovarian cancer, measurement of their activities may be used as a diagnostic means in ovarian cancer as well as the other analytical procedures.

Peculiarities of arginase and NO-synthase pathways of L-arginine metabolism in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with ovarian cancer

O. I. Yakubets, R. V. Fafula, D. Z. Vorobets, Z. D. Vorobets

Danylo Halytski Lviv National Medical University, Ukraine;
е-mail: vorobets@meduniv.lviv.ua

The peculiarities of arginase and NO-synthase pathways of L-arginine metabolism in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with ovarian cancer were studied. It was shown that the development of cancer pathology is associated with an imbalance in the NO synthesis in blood lymphocytes. The reason for such imbalance is the activation of arginase and inducible isoform of NO-synthase (iNOS) and significant inhibition of its constitutive isoform. The analysis of the kinetic properties of NOS of blood lymphocytes of patients with ovarian cancer was carried out. It was shown that the affinity constant of iNOS affinity for L-arginine is 5.4-fold lower than for eNOS of blood lymphocytes of persons in the control group. The inhibition of eNOS occurs via non-competitive type and is related to the reduction of maximum reaction rate.

Manifestations of oxidative stress and molecular damages in ovarian cancer tissue

H. I. Falfushynska1,2, L. L. Gnatyshyna1,2, H. V. Deneha1, O. Y. Osadchuk1, O. B. Stoliar1

1Volodymyr Hnatiuk Ternopil National Pedagogical University, Ukraine;
e-mail: halynka.f@gmail.com;
2I.Ya. Horbachevsky Ternopil State Medical University, Ukraine

Indices of oxidative stress are recognized molecular markers and prognostic criteria for malignant transformation of tissue, but their value depends on the type of tumor and the stage of its development. The goal of this study was to clarify the relationship between the characteristics of the oxidative stress system including­ metal-associated ones and the cytotoxicity manifestations in neoplastically transformed human ovarian tissue. The highest level of Mn-superoxide dismutase activity (by 630%) and metallothionein protein (MT, 100%) has been estimated for the first time in malignant ovarian tissue compared to normal ovarian tissue. The researchers have also found a much higher level of oxy-radical formation (by 332%), a lower activity of catalase (by 49%) and a lower level of reduced glutathione (by 46%) and its redox index (0.84 versus 0.89 in the control) in tumor tissue. Under the relatively stable content of zinc, copper and cadmium in MTs, the content of zinc and especially copper in a form non-binding with MTs was significantly lower in the malignant tissue compared to normal one while the content of cadmium was higher. A discriminant analysis of all definable parameters revealed that the higher content of the products of oxidative destruction of proteins, lipids, fragmented DNA and the activity of cathepsin D, especially in its free form (by 235%), are the main characteristic signs of malignant ovarian tissue.