Genome-wide microarray gene expression, array-CGH analysis, and telomerase activity in advanced ovarian endometriosis: A high degree of differentiation rather than malignant potential

Menelaos Zafrakas, Μenelaos Zafrakas, Zafrakas M, Basil C. Tarlatzis, Tarlatzis BC, Streichert T, Thomas Streichert, Fotios Pournaropoulos, Pournaropoulos F, Ute Wölfle, Smeets SJ, Serge Smeets, Serge J Smeets, Wittek B, Britta Wittek, Grimbizis G, Grigorios Grimbizis, Ruud H. Brakenhoff, Brakenhoff RH, Klaus Pantel, Pantel K, J. Bontis, Bontis J, John Bontis, Cagatay Günes, Çagatay Güneş
International journal of molecular medicine · 2008 · vol. 21(3) , pp. 335–44 · doi:10.3892/ijmm.21.3.335 · PMID:18288381 · W1998345137
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-10 ⓘ

Advanced ovarian endometriosis exhibits a highly differentiated gene expression profile with minimal genomic aberrations and absent telomerase activity in ectopic tissue, suggesting low malignant potential.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-10 · read from full text ⓘ

The study investigated whether endometriosis and cancer share common molecular characteristics by comparing genome-wide gene expression and genomic copy-number changes in advanced ovarian endometriosis versus matched normal endometrium, using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays and high-resolution array-CGH on prospectively collected tissue during diagnostic laparoscopy. It found up-regulation of RARRES1 and RARRES2 and down-regulation of genes involved in the cell cycle, cell metabolism, and homeostasis, consistent with a highly differentiated tissue phenotype, and RT-PCR validation was performed. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression and telomerase activity were detected in eutopic but absent in ectopic endometrium, while array-CGH showed a normal genomic pattern without gross amplifications or deletions. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it analyzes genome-wide expression, copy-number alterations, and telomerase activity in advanced ovarian endometriosis to assess malignant potential.

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether endometriosis and cancer share common molecular characteristics. Tissue samples were collected prospectively during diagnostic laparoscopy of patients with primary infertility. Using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays, (Affymetrix Gene Chip HG-U133 Set) the genome-wide gene expression profile of advanced ovarian endometriosis was analyzed compared with matched normal endometrium. Expression of TERT, the gene encoding the telomerase reverse transcriptase subunit, and telomerase activity were analyzed in eutopic and ectopic endometrium. Genome-wide, high-resolution array-CGH was used to screen for genomic aberrations in endometriosis. Expression microarray data were validated quantitatively with RT-PCR. The genes RARRES1 and RARRES2 (retinoic acid receptor responder 1 and 2) were found to be up-regulated in endometriosis, suggesting a high degree of differentiation. Consistently, down-regulated genes included those involved in the cell cycle, cell metabolism and homeostasis. Expression of TERT and telomerase activity were present in eutopic but absent in ectopic endometrium. Array-CGH revealed a normal genomic pattern without gross amplifications and deletions. In conclusion, these data suggest that advanced ovarian endometriosis represents a highly differentiated tissue with minimal or no malignant potential.
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Print ISSN: 1107-3756 Online ISSN: 1791-244X International Journal of Molecular Medicine is an international journal devoted to molecular mechanisms of human disease. International Journal of Oncology is an international journal devoted to oncology research and cancer treatment. Covers molecular medicine topics such as pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, infectious diseases, molecular cardiology, and molecular surgery. Oncology Reports is an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research in Oncology. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine is an international journal devoted to laboratory and clinical medicine. Oncology Letters is an international journal devoted to Experimental and Clinical Oncology. Explores a wide range of biological and medical fields, including pharmacology, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and molecular cardiology. International journal addressing all aspects of oncology research, from tumorigenesis and oncogenes to chemotherapy and metastasis. Multidisciplinary open-access journal spanning biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, environmental health, and synthetic biology. Open-access journal combining biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, and genetics to advance health through functional nutrition. Publishes open-access research on using epigenetics to advance understanding and treatment of human disease. An International Open Access Journal Devoted to General Medicine. Article - Authors: - Pages: 335-344|Published online on: March 1, 2008https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.21.3.335 - Expand metrics + The aim of the present study was to investigate whether endometriosis and cancer share common molecular characteristics. Tissue samples were collected prospectively during diagnostic laparoscopy of patients with primary infertility. Using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays, (Affymetrix Gene Chip HG-U133 Set) the genome-wide gene expression profile of advanced ovarian endometriosis was analyzed compared with matched normal endometrium. Expression of TERT, the gene encoding the telomerase reverse transcriptase subunit, and telomerase activity were analyzed in eutopic and ectopic endometrium. Genome-wide, high-resolution array-CGH was used to screen for genomic aberrations in endometriosis. Expression microarray data were validated quantitatively with RT-PCR. The genes RARRES1 and RARRES2 (retinoic acid receptor responder 1 and 2) were found to be up-regulated in endometriosis, suggesting a high degree of differentiation. Consistently, down-regulated genes included those involved in the cell cycle, cell metabolism and homeostasis. Expression of TERT and telomerase activity were present in eutopic but absent in ectopic endometrium. Array-CGH revealed a normal genomic pattern without gross amplifications and deletions. In conclusion, these data suggest that advanced ovarian endometriosis represents a highly differentiated tissue with minimal or no malignant potential. Copy and paste a formatted citation Spandidos Publications style Zafrakas M, Tarlatzis BC, Streichert T, Pournaropoulos F, Wölfle U, Smeets SJ, Wittek B, Grimbizis G, Brakenhoff RH, Pantel K, Pantel K, et al: Genome-wide microarray gene expression, array-CGH analysis, and telomerase activity in advanced ovarian endometriosis: A high degree of differentiation rather than malignant potential. Int J Mol Med 21: 335-344, 2008. APA Zafrakas, M., Tarlatzis, B.C., Streichert, T., Pournaropoulos, F., Wölfle, U., Smeets, S.J. ... Günes, C. (2008). Genome-wide microarray gene expression, array-CGH analysis, and telomerase activity in advanced ovarian endometriosis: A high degree of differentiation rather than malignant potential. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 21, 335-344. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.21.3.335 MLA Zafrakas, M., Tarlatzis, B. C., Streichert, T., Pournaropoulos, F., Wölfle, U., Smeets, S. J., Wittek, B., Grimbizis, G., Brakenhoff, R. H., Pantel, K., Bontis, J., Günes, C."Genome-wide microarray gene expression, array-CGH analysis, and telomerase activity in advanced ovarian endometriosis: A high degree of differentiation rather than malignant potential". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 21.3 (2008): 335-344. Chicago Zafrakas, M., Tarlatzis, B. C., Streichert, T., Pournaropoulos, F., Wölfle, U., Smeets, S. J., Wittek, B., Grimbizis, G., Brakenhoff, R. H., Pantel, K., Bontis, J., Günes, C."Genome-wide microarray gene expression, array-CGH analysis, and telomerase activity in advanced ovarian endometriosis: A high degree of differentiation rather than malignant potential". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 21, no. 3 (2008): 335-344. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.21.3.335

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Gene Expression Profiling Genome, Human Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis Ovarian Diseases Telomerase Cell Differentiation Down-Regulation Down-Regulation Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Expressed Sequence Tags Female Genome, Human Humans

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