Open Access

Expression of connective tissue growth factor as a prognostic indicator and its possible involvement in the aggressive properties of epithelial ovarian carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Akiko Shimbo
    • Hiroaki Kajiyama
    • Satoshi Tamauchi
    • Nobuhisa Yoshikawa
    • Yoshiki Ikeda
    • Kimihiro Nishino
    • Shiro Suzuki
    • Kaoru Niimi
    • Jun Sakata
    • Fumitaka Kikkawa
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 3, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2019.7352
  • Pages: 2323-2332
  • Copyright: © Shimbo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Recently, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was demonstrated to be associated with aggressive characteristics, including proliferation, invasion and metastasis, in a number of malignancies. Here, we investigated the expression and function of CTGF in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) to clarify its molecular mechanism and clinical significance. Paraffin sections from clinical samples of EOC (N=104) were immunostained with the CTGF antibody, and then the staining positivity was semiquantitatively examined. Moreover, we explored the role of CTGF expression in the migration‑promoting effect on and chemoresistance of EOC cells. The results revealed that of the 104 EOC patients, the low and high CTGF staining expression rates were 65 (62.5%) and 39 (37.5%), respectively. Patients belonging to the higher‑level CTGF group showed poorer progression‑free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates than those in the lower‑level group [PFS (log‑rank: P=0.0076) and OS (log‑rank: P=0.0078), respectively]. Multivariable analysis showed that CTGF expression was a significant predictor of poorer PFS and OS [PFS: HR (high vs. low): 1.837, 95% CI: 1.023‑3.289 (P=0.0418); OS: HR: 2.141, 95% CI: 1.077‑4.296 (P=0.0300)]. In in vitro studies, in acquired paclitaxel (PTX)‑resistant EOC cells, the silencing of CTGF expression led to the restoration of PTX sensitivity. Furthermore, we confirmed that the TGF‑β‑dependent migration‑promoting effect on these CTGF‑depleted cells was completely inhibited. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest the possible involvement of CTGF in the migration‑promoting effect and chemoresistance of EOC, suggesting that it may be a target for overcoming the malignant properties of EOC.
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December-2019
Volume 42 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Shimbo A, Kajiyama H, Tamauchi S, Yoshikawa N, Ikeda Y, Nishino K, Suzuki S, Niimi K, Sakata J, Kikkawa F, Kikkawa F, et al: Expression of connective tissue growth factor as a prognostic indicator and its possible involvement in the aggressive properties of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Oncol Rep 42: 2323-2332, 2019
APA
Shimbo, A., Kajiyama, H., Tamauchi, S., Yoshikawa, N., Ikeda, Y., Nishino, K. ... Kikkawa, F. (2019). Expression of connective tissue growth factor as a prognostic indicator and its possible involvement in the aggressive properties of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Oncology Reports, 42, 2323-2332. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2019.7352
MLA
Shimbo, A., Kajiyama, H., Tamauchi, S., Yoshikawa, N., Ikeda, Y., Nishino, K., Suzuki, S., Niimi, K., Sakata, J., Kikkawa, F."Expression of connective tissue growth factor as a prognostic indicator and its possible involvement in the aggressive properties of epithelial ovarian carcinoma". Oncology Reports 42.6 (2019): 2323-2332.
Chicago
Shimbo, A., Kajiyama, H., Tamauchi, S., Yoshikawa, N., Ikeda, Y., Nishino, K., Suzuki, S., Niimi, K., Sakata, J., Kikkawa, F."Expression of connective tissue growth factor as a prognostic indicator and its possible involvement in the aggressive properties of epithelial ovarian carcinoma". Oncology Reports 42, no. 6 (2019): 2323-2332. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2019.7352