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Objective: To study the relationship between tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) expression and anoikis-suppression and invasion in OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells., Methods: The expression of TrkB mRNA in OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells under two culture conditions: adhesive cells and cell-spheroids were evaluated by RT-PCR and real-time PCR. The relationship between TrkB expression and anoikis-suppression of OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells was examined by RNA interference (RNAi) technic, anchorage independent culture and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. The difference in invasion and metastatic ability of OVCAR3 cells under two culture conditions and with or without TrkB silenced by small interfering RNA (siRNA) was investigated by matrigel invasion assay and in vivo studies., Results: The expression of TrkB mRNA was highest in OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells, 0.0240 +/- 0.0017, compared with the other three cell lines, 0.0030 +/- 0.0006, 0.0027 +/- 0.0009 and 0.0087 +/- 0.0003 respectively, and the expression in OVCAR3 multicellular spheroids was significantly higher than that in cells under monolayer adhesive culture, 0.0437 +/- 0.0021 versus 0.0240 +/- 0.0017 (P < 0.01). TrkB mediated anoikis-suppression in OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells. OVCAR3 multicellular spheroids had a higher invasion ability than OVCAR3 cells under monolayer adhesive culture, and the penetrating cells of the two groups were 71.8 +/- 0.8 and 47.7 +/- 0.8 respectively (P < 0.01). The metastatic ability of OVCAR3 cells was attenuated when TrkB was silenced, and the volume of the tumors developed by OVCAR3 adhesive cells and OVCAR3 adhesive cells with TrkB silenced were (16.3 +/- 4.7) mm(3) and (6.0 +/- 1.4) mm(3) respectively (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: As an anoikis-suppressor, TrkB may increase the invasion and metastasis of OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells.

Objective: To study the gene expression profile of different stage endometrial cancer and identify genes related to the progression and metastasis of endometrial cancer., Methods: cDNA microarray was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes between different stage endometrial cancers. The hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to the gene expression profile of 32 endometrial cancers., Results: Twelve differentially expressed genes were identified between different stage endometrial cancers. The conformity rate was 66% between the result of hierarchical cluster analysis and the operative-histological stages of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)., Conclusion: Genes related to the endometrial cancer progression and metastasis can be identified by differential gene expression profile with cDNA microarray and high-risk endometrial cancer may be distinguished before surgery by hierarchical cluster analysis.

Objective: To develop a surgical method for establishment of a heterotopic uterine transplantation model in syngeneic rats and evaluate its feasibility., Methods: Thirty pairs of Wistar rats aged 8 - 10 weeks were used as donor and recipient. Heterotopic uterine transplantation was conducted, and the duration of the operation was recorded. The recipient rats were killed 7 days after surgery. The morphology of the transplanted uteri was evaluated., Results: Thirty heterotopic uterine transplantations were conducted. The survival rate increased from 40% (6/15) in the first 15 pairs of recipient rats to 75% (12/15) in the last 15 pairs of recipient rats. Among the 18 living recipient rats, 15 transplanted uteri were viable. The viable rate of uterine transplantation was 83%. Compared with the first 15 pairs of rats, the duration of donor procedures, recipient procedures vascular anastomosis and the total time of the surgery decreased to (65 +/- 10) min, (89 +/- 22) min, (36 +/- 8) min and (154 +/- 23) min respectively in the last 15 pairs of rats., Conclusion: It is feasible to establish the model of heterotopic uterine transplantation in Wistar rats.