Relationship between Expressions of Angiopoietin-2 and Its Receptors and Angiogenesis in Ovarian Cancer

Objective To explore the correlations between the expressions of Angiopoietin-2(Ang-2) and its receptor(Tie-2) and the microvessel density(MVD)，as well as several clinicopathologic parameters in ovarian carcinomas. Methods The expressions of Ang-2 and Tie-2 were detected By RT-PCR，and MVD by the immunohistochemical mothed in 25 specimens of normal ovaries，25 specimens of benign ovarian tumors and 65 specimens of ovarian cancer. Results The MVD in the ovarian cancer group was significantly higher than that in the benign ovarian tumors group(t=2.61，P<0.05)，moreover there was a significantly varied MVD among different clinical stages of ovarian cancer(F=4.618，P<0.05).Both positive rate and level of Ang-2 mRNA were markedly highest in the ovarian cancer group than those in the benign ovarian tumors group and the control group(P<0.05).There was a significant difference of Ang-2 mRNA in different clinical stages of ovarian cancer (0.298±0.022 vs. 0.206±0.086，P<0.05).A positive correlation was found between the MVD and the expression level of the Ang-2 mRNA(rMV=0.685，P<0.05).Tie-2 mRNA was only observed from 5 specimens of ovarian cancer. Conclusion Ang-2 was high-expression.and associated with the increased formation of tumor blood vessels in ovarian cancer.