[Study on mRNA expression of the human novel gene NM23-H1B in ovarian tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of the human novel gene NM23-H1B in ovarian cancer. METHODS: Forty-eight samples from patients with ovarian tumor at different clinical stages and 8 from normal ovaries were examined for NM23-H1B mRNA expression by using RT-PCR, northern blot and in situ hybridization. RESULTS: All samples expressed NM23-H1B mRNA through RT-PCR, while the level of expression in ovarian tumor was higher than that of normal ovary. The level of expression in early stage (stage I and II) cancer was higher than in advanced (stage III and IV) cancer. The results of northern blot showed that NM23-H1B was over expressed in ovarian cancer while low expressed in normal ovary or low malignant potential (LMP) ovarian cancer. In early stage carcinoma, the expression level was related with the differentiation of tumor cell. Well-differentiated cancer expressed NM23-H1B mRNA at comparatively higher level. The result of in situ hybridization showed that positive expression rate of NM23-H1B mRNA in ovarian cancer (100%, 40/40) was significantly higher than that in normal ovary (0/8) or LMP ovarian cancer (2/8). CONCLUSION: The novel gene NM23-H1B is related to ovarian cancer.