This study aimed to explore the expressions of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and a gene associated with retinoid-interferon induced mortality (Grim19) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), and to determine their correlations with tumor progression and metastasis as well as the related mechanism. Ovarian tissue specimens resected through operation in our hospital were collected, and the correlations of Grim19 and STAT3 expressions with clinicopathological indexes were detected via immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blotting. Their positions in cells were observed through immunofluorescence. IHC assay results showed that STAT3 had the lowest expression level in the normal ovary, followed by those in benign ovarian tumor and borderline ovarian tumor (BOT), but it had high expression in EOC; The expression level of Grim19 was the lowest in EOC, followed by those in BOT and benign ovarian tumor successively, while it was highly expressed in the normal ovary; The expressions of STAT3 and Grim19 presented negative correlations in all kinds of ovarian tissues (p < 0.05). The expression level of STAT3 in EOC had no obvious correlations with FIGO staging or WHO classification (p > 0.05). The expression level of Grim19 in EOC in stage FIGO III-IV was higher than that in stage FIGO I-II (p < 0.05), Grim19 expression was not obviously associated with WHO classification (p > 0.05). The expressions of Grim19 and STAT3 in lymphatic metastasis lesion had significantly positive correlations with the primary lesion (p < 0.05). The Western blotting assay results were identical with the IHC results. The immunofluorescence demonstrated that STAT3 and Grim19 were mainly localized in the cytoplasm and they were colocalized in mitochondria. In conclusion, STAT3 presents high expression in EOC tissues while Grim19 is expressed in EOC tissues at a low level, which may be related to its interaction with STAT3 as well as progression, metastasis and poor prognosis of ovarian cancer.

中文翻译：

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STAT3和Grim19在上皮性卵巢癌中的表达及临床意义

这项研究旨在探讨上皮性卵巢癌（EOC）中信号转导子和转录激活因子3（STAT3）的表达以及与类维生素A干扰素致死的相关基因（Grim19）的表达，并确定它们与肿瘤进展和转移的相关性。以及相关机制。收集我院手术切除的卵巢组织标本，通过免疫组化和Western blotting检测Grim19和STAT3表达与临床病理指标的相关性。通过免疫荧光观察它们在细胞中的位置。IHC检测结果表明，STAT3在正常卵巢中的表达水平最低，其次是在良性卵巢肿瘤和交界性卵巢肿瘤（BOT）中，但在EOC中的表达最高。Grim19在EOC中的表达水平最低，其次是在BOT和卵巢良性肿瘤中，而在正常卵巢中高表达。STAT3和Grim19的表达在各种卵巢组织中均呈负相关（p <0.05）。EOC中STAT3的表达水平与FIGO分期或WHO分类无明显相关性（p> 0.05）。在FIGO III-IV期EOC中Grim19的表达水平高于FIGO I-II期（p <0.05），Grim19的表达与WHO分类无关（p> 0.05）。淋巴结转移灶中Grim19和STAT3的表达与原发灶显着正相关（p <0.05）。Western印迹分析结果与IHC结果相同。免疫荧光表明STAT3和Grim19主要位于细胞质中，并且共定位于线粒体中。总之，STAT3在EOC组织中高表达，而Grim19在EOC组织中低水平表达，这可能与其与STAT3的相互作用以及卵巢癌的进展，转移和不良预后有关。