Correlation of expression of RhoA (RhoC and their effector ROCK-1 with malignant phenotype of ovarian cancer cells in vitro / 中华肿瘤杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of RhoA, RhoC and their effector ROCK-1 in four ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro and their correlation with invasiveness.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Expression of RhoA, RhoC and ROCK-1 mRNA and protein in four ovarian cancer cell lines SW626, Skov-3, A2780 and Caov-3 was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot assay. Invasion assay was done in Boyden chamber.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression levels of RhoA, RhoC and ROCK-1 mRNA and protein varied in the four different cell lines examined. The expression level of RhoC, but not RhoA and ROCK-1, was significantly correlated with the invasive capability of these cells in vitro (r = 0.95, P < 0.01). Expression of RhoA at the level of transcription was not correlated with that at the translation level. The expression of RhoA and RhoC did not correlate with that of ROCK-1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Expression level of RhoC may serve as an independent parameter in evaluating metastasis and become a new target in inhibiting ovarian cancer metastasis.</p>