Adaptor Protein Crk is Implicated in Mucus Formation in Mucinous Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (mEOC) Cells MCAS

Objective： The mucus production is an indicator for the histological grade of mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer （mEOC）. In our previous study, Crk expression was targeted in the human ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma cell line MCAS through RNA interference, resulting in the establishment of Crk knock down cells. These cells exhibited decreased tumorigenic potential both in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this study was to investigate if there is any change in the capability of forming mucus in these Crk knock down cells. Methods： Cytoplasmic periodic acid Schiff （PAS） staining and particle excluding assay were conducted to assess the mucus formation within and around cells, respectively. Additionally, the amount of mucus formed in tumor lumps from nude mice model was measured following HE and PAS staining. Results： The increased mucus production in Crk knockdown mEOC cells （MCAS） was manifested by increased number of enlarged cells filled with vacuoles-like mucus observed by phase-contrast microscope and cytoplasmic PAS staining; and enhanced mucus secretion was represented by the assembly of pericellular matrix in particle excluding assay and increased mucus area in tumor lumps from nude mice models. Conclusion： The course of carcinogenesis in mEOC is associated with the altered pattern of mucus production and secretion. The adaptor protein Crk is implicated in both pathways.

Gastrointestinal-type chemotherapy prolongs survival in an atypical primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma: A case report

BACKGROUND Primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma is a rare histologic subtype of epithelial ovarian carcinoma and exhibits considerable morphologic overlap with secondary tumour.It is hard to differentiate primary from metastatic ovarian mucinous carcinoma by morphological and immunohistochemical features.Because of the histologic similarity between primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma and metastatic gastrointestinal carcinoma,it has been hypothesized that ovarian mucinous carcinomas might respond better to non-gynecologic regimens.However,the standard treatment of advanced ovarian mucinous carcinoma has not reached a consensus.CASE SUMMARY A 56-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with repeated pain attacks in the right lower quadrant abdomen,accompanied by diarrhoea,anorexia,and weight loss for about 3 mo.The patient initially misdiagnosed as having gastrointestinal carcinoma because of similar pathological features.Based on the physical examination,tumour markers,imaging tests,and genetic tests,the patient was clinically diagnosed with ovary mucinous adenocarcinoma.Whether gastrointestinal-type chemotherapy or gynecologic chemotherapy was a favourable choice for patients with advanced ovarian mucinous cancer had not been determined.The patient received a chemotherapy regimen based on the histologic characteristics rather than the tumour origin.The patient received nine cycles of FOLFOX and bevacizumab.This was followed by seven cycles of bevacizumab maintenance therapy for 9 mo.Satisfactory therapeutic efficacy was achieved.CONCLUSION The genetic analysis might be used in the differential diagnosis of primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma and non-gynecologic mucinous carcinoma.Moreover,primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma patients could benefit from gastrointestinal-type chemotherapy.