The expression of H3K9Ac, H3K14Ac, and H4K20TriMe in epithelial ovarian tumors and the clinical significance

Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2010 Jan;20(1):82-6. doi: 10.1111/IGC.0b013e3181ae3efa.

Abstract

Objective: To study the expression of acetylation of histone H3 Lys9, Lys14 (H3K9Ac, H3K14Ac), and trimethylation of histone H4 Lys20 (H4K20TriMe) in ovarian epithelial tumors and the relation with histological grading and clinical staging.

Methods: The mean optical density of H3K9Ac, H3K14Ac, and H4K20TriMe of normal ovarian epithelium, ovarian adenomas, ovarian borderline tumors, and ovarian epithelial carcinomas was determined by immunohistochemistry, and the relation with histological grading and clinical staging was analyzed.

Results: As the malignancy of ovarian epithelial tumors increased, the expression of H3K9Ac and H4K20TriMe significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Although the expressing difference of H3K14Ac was without statistical significance in each group (P > 0.05), there were no differences in the expression of H3K9Ac, H3K14Ac, and H4K20TriMe in serous cystadenomas, borderline serous cystadenomas, and mucinous cystadenomas (P > 0.05). Compared with mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, the expression of H3K9Ac and H4K20TriMe in serous cystadenocarcinomas was lower (P < 0.05). Although there was no difference of H3K14Ac expression in serous and mucinous cystadenocarcinomas (P > 0.05), as the histological grade reduced, the expression of H3K9Ac and H4K20TriMe reduced (P < 0.05), and it was lower in the late clinical stage than those in the earlier stage (P < 0.01).

Conclusions: The decreasing of H3K9Ac and H4K20TriMe is possibly related with the occurrence of epithelial ovarian tumors. The more significant the expression of H3K9Ac and H4K20TriMe was, the lower the histological grading and the later the clinical staging were. H3K9Ac and H4K20TriMe were potential biomarkers for prognosis. H3K14Ac showed no significant relation with the occurrence and development of ovarian tumors.

MeSH terms

  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / metabolism
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / pathology
  • Cystadenoma, Mucinous / metabolism
  • Cystadenoma, Mucinous / pathology
  • Female
  • Histone Acetyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Histone Methyltransferases
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism*
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lysine / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Histones
  • Histone Methyltransferases
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Histone Acetyltransferases
  • Lysine