Transcriptome sequencing identifies genes associated with invasion of ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To identify key genes in ovarian cancer using transcriptome sequencing in two cell lines: MCV152 (benign ovarian epithelial tumour) and SKOV-3 (ovarian serous carcinoma).

METHODS: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between SKOV-3 and MCV152 were identified. Candidate genes were assessed for enrichment in gene ontology function and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes pathway. Candidate gene expression in SKOV-3 and MCV152 cells was validated using Western blots.

RESULTS: A total of 2020 upregulated and 1673 downregulated DEGs between SKOV3 and MCV152 cells were identified that were significantly enriched in the cell adhesion function. Upregulated DEGs, such as angiopoietin 2 ( ANGPT2 ), CD19 molecule ( CD19 ), collagen type IV alpha 3 chain ( COL4A3 ), fibroblast growth factor 18 ( FGF18 ), integrin subunit beta 4 ( ITGB4 ), integrin subunit beta 8 ( ITGB8 ), laminin subunit alpha 3 ( LAMA3 ), laminin subunit gamma 2 ( LAMC2 ), protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit Bgamma ( PPP2R2C ) and spleen associated tyrosine kinase ( SYK ) were significantly involved in the extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway. Downregulated DEGs, such as AKT serine/threonine kinase 3 ( AKT3 ), collagen type VI alpha 1 chain ( COL6A1 ), colony stimulating factor 3 ( CSF3 ), fibroblast growth factor 1 ( FGF1 ), integrin subunit alpha 2 ( ITGA2 ), integrin subunit alpha 11 ( ITGA11 ), MYB proto-oncogene, transcription factor ( MYB ), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2, mitochondrial ( PCK2 ), placental growth factor ( PGF ), phosphoinositide-3-kinase adaptor protein 1 ( PIK3AP1 ), serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 ( SGK1 ), toll like receptor 4 ( TLR4 ) and tumour protein p53 ( TP53 ) were involved in PI3K-Akt signalling. Expression of these DEGs was confirmed by Western blot analyses.

CONCLUSION: Candidate genes enriched in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix-receptor interaction and PI3K-Akt signalling pathways were identified that may be closely associated with ovarian cancer invasion and potential targets for ovarian cancer treatment.