Thrombospondin-1 and -2 messenger RNA expression in epithelial ovarian tumor

Background: The role of thrombospondin (TSP) in tumor progression remains controversial. The association of TSP with clinicopathological features regarding prognostic significance was examined in patients with epithelial ovarian tumor. Materials and Methods: Gene expression of TSP-1 and TSP-2 was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in 6 borderline and 29 malignant epithelial ovarian tumors. Results: TSP-1 mRNA expression was detected in 14 out of the 29 malignant epithelial ovarian tumors (48.3%), whereas TSP-2 mRNA expression was detected in 7 malignant epithelial ovarian tumors (24.1%). In contrast, no specimen from the borderline epithelial ovarian tumors expressed TSP mRNA. TSP-1 expression was significantly higher in tumors with advanced stage, massive ascites, positive peritoneal cytology and high grade. TSP-2 expression was significantly higher in tumors with massive ascites. Patients exhibiting TSP-1 and -2 mRNA expression demonstrated a markedly poorer prognosis than those lacking TSP-1 and -2 mRNA expression. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that TSP expression may be associated with an aggressive phenotype in this class of neoplasm.