ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the role of claudin-3, claudin-4 in carcinogenesis and progression of ovarian mucous cystoadenocarcinoma. Methods Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization method were employed to detect the expression of claudin-3, -4, claudin-4 mRNA in ovary epithelium, mucinous cystadeno-nut, mucinous cystadenoma of borderline, mucous cystadenocarcinoma. Results claudin-3, -4 expression was lowest in ovarian epithelium and mucinous cystadenoma, higher in borderline mucinous cystadenoma, and high-est in ovarian cystadenocarcinoma(P<0.05 ). The expression of claudin-3, -4 in poor differentiated ovarian carcinoma was stronger than that in well- differentiated and moderately differentiated carcinoma (P< 0.05 ),but there was no significant difference between well-differentiated and moderately differentiated carcinoma(P>0.05). Conclusion The overexpvession of claudin-3, -4 is correlated closely with the carcinogenesis and advancement of ovarian mucinous carcinoma, and may have correlation with the differentiated degree of o-varian carcinoma, claudin-3, -4 may become the specific markers of ovarian mucous cystadenocarcinoma.