Page 44 - D. Cancer biology

[D. Cancer biology-30]

Cancer-associated protein tetraspanin1 increases cell growth

through AMP-activated protein kinase in atypical

endometriosis

Ha-Yeon Shin¹, Doo Byung Chay², Wookyeom Yang¹, Eun-ju Lee¹, Jae-Hoon Kim¹

¹Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 06273,

Korea, ²Obstertrics and gynecology, Sahmyook medical center, Seoul 02500, Korea

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is an epithelial ovarian cancer and has a poor prognosis. OCCC can arise from
endometriosis (Em). As a precursor that proceeds to OCCC has reported Atypical endometriosis (AtyEm). However,

the molecular mechanism underlying its malignant progression to OCCC has not been fully elucidated. This study
aims to identify an essential gene in the malignant transformation of Em to OCCC. RNA sequencing was performed

in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues of Em, AtyEm, adjacent endometriosis to OCCC, and OCCC. The
selected differentially expressed genes were validated by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarray (TMA). Cell

proliferation assays of the immortalized Em cell lines, manipulated by the over-expression or knock-down of
tetraspanin 1 (TSPAN1), were conducted. mRNA expression levels of TSPAN1 were increased by 80·7-fold (DESeq2)

or 101-fold (edgeR) in OCCC compared with Em. In TMA tissues, TSPAN1 expression levels were increased similarly.
We found that TSPAN1 overexpression end accompanies AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in Em cells

but not in OCCC cell lines. TSPAN1 increased the growth rate of Em cell lines through AMPK activity suggesting the
potential of TSPAN1 as a marker for screening high-risk Em.