Open AccessTetraspanin 1 promotes endometriosis leading to ovarian clear cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Shin HaYeon,
Yang Wookyeom,
Chay Doo Byung,
Lee Eunju,
Chung JoonYong,
Kim HyunSoo,
Kim JaeHoon
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
molecular oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.332
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1878-0261
pISSN - 1574-7891
DOI - 10.1002/1878-0261.12884
Subject(s) - endometriosis , clear cell carcinoma , cancer research , clear cell , ovarian cancer , carcinoma , medicine , biology , oncology , cancer
Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) reportedly develops from endometriosis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying its malignant progression to OCCC remains elusive. This study aimed to identify an essential gene in the malignant transformation of endometriosis to OCCC. We performed RNA sequencing in formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissues of endometriosis ( n = 9), atypical endometriosis (AtyEm) ( n = 18), adjacent endometriosis to OCCC (AdjEm) ( n = 7), and OCCC ( n = 17). We found that tetraspanin 1 ( TSPAN1 ) mRNA level was significantly increased by 2.4‐ (DESeq2) and 3.4‐fold (edgeR) in AtyEm and by 80.7‐ (DESeq2) and 101‐fold (edgeR) in OCCC relative to endometriosis. We confirmed that TSPAN1 protein level was similarly overexpressed in OCCC tissues and cell lines. In immortalized endometriosis cell lines, TSPAN1 overexpression enhanced cell growth and invasion. Mechanistically, TSPAN1 triggered AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, promoting endometriosis and cell growth. Upregulated levels of TSPAN1 are considered an early event in the development of high‐risk endometriosis that could progress to ovarian cancer. Our study suggests the potential of TSPAN1 as a screening candidate for high‐risk endometriosis.