[Screening for ovarian cancer-associated genes with cDNA microarrays].
The molecular mechanism leading to the development and progression of ovarian carcinoma are not completely understood. It may be the result of a series of molecular changes in the cell caused by changes in the expression level of numerous genes of tumor. In this report the authors used cDNA microarray to identify differentially expressed genes between ovarian cancer tissue and normal ovary tissue to screen ovarian cancer-associated genes. cDNA microarrays were prepared by spotting PCR products of 512 cDNA of human oncogene and tumor suppressor gene onto specially treated glass slides with robotics. The probes were prepared by labeling normal tissue mRNA and cancer tissue mRNA with Cy3-dUTP and Cy5-dUTP separately through reverse transcription PCR. The arrays were then hybridized against the cDNA probe mixture and the fluorescent signals were scanned. The obtained data were analyzed using ImaGene 3.0 software. Thirty-eight genes showed co-expression specificity in 3 or more than 3 cases. There were 15 upregulated genes and 23 downregulated genes in ovarian cancer tissues. Utilizing cDNA microarrays, 3 ovarian cancer-associated genes have been initially screened.