小鼠髓母细胞瘤干细胞分离培养及干细胞标记物的分析

目的 旨在建立自发髓母细胞瘤模型小鼠肿瘤干细胞分离培养方法,观察其在体外形成克隆的能力,对可能的肿瘤干细胞标志分子CD44、CD133和CD15进行流式细胞术分析鉴定.方法 将小鼠髓母细胞瘤组织通过温和消化液消化分离成单细胞悬液,于干细胞培养基中培养.计算其细胞球形成率.于含血清培养基中培养观察分化能力.利用流式细胞术对其表面可能的干细胞表面标记分子进行分析鉴定.结果 从模型小鼠髓母细胞瘤组织中成功分离培养髓母细胞瘤原代细胞,原代细胞可形成具有高度的自我更新和增殖能力的细胞球;细胞球可在含血清培养基中贴壁分化成为神经元样细胞;干细胞表面标记分子流式细胞术分析表明髓母细胞瘤干细胞中CD44表达较高,CD133及CD15的表达无差异或者降低.结论 髓母细胞瘤肿瘤细胞中存在一定量的具有自我更新增殖能力、高表达CD44的肿瘤干细胞,并能在体外将其分离培养、连续传代及诱导发生分化.     

人上皮性卵巢癌细胞系侧群细胞的肿瘤干细胞样细胞生物学特性及膜蛋白差异表达的鉴定

目的 鉴定上皮性卵巢癌细胞侧群细胞(SP细胞)肿瘤干细胞样细胞生物学特性,并检测侧群细胞内差异蛋白质的表达.方法 流式分选上皮性卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3和A2780具有外泌Hochest33342染料生物学特性的侧群细胞,鉴定其肿瘤干细胞样细胞相关生物学特性.运用细胞培养稳定同位素标记(SILAC)的定量蛋白质组学技术,...     

细胞表面糖链与肿瘤干细胞

近年来,肿瘤治疗手段虽有了很多新的进展,但如何应对复发和转移仍是肿瘤治疗的棘手问题.在白血病及多种实体肿瘤如乳腺癌、结肠癌、肺癌等中都存在数量极少的具有干细胞性质的肿瘤细胞,这类细胞被称为肿瘤干细胞或肿瘤起始细胞.肿瘤干细胞能够抵抗常规的放射和化学治疗,被认为是造成肿瘤复发和转移的主要原因.肿瘤干细胞的表面标志分子用来分离鉴定肿瘤干细胞及作为治疗靶点具有极大潜力,目前被广泛认可的标志物有CD44、CD133等,它们在正常组织干细胞中表达,如人造血干细胞、神经干细胞等,也可以用来分离鉴定一些实体肿瘤中的干细胞[1].选择性地去除肿瘤干细胞而对正常干细胞不产生明显毒性是治愈肿瘤的关键,但目前并没有获得理想的针对肿瘤干细胞的特异性标志物.由于必要的糖转移酶的表达缺陷,肿瘤细胞表面糖链的组成及结构明显改变.新近发现,一些糖链表达于肿瘤干细胞表面,这些糖链对糖生物学基础研究、发现和寻找肿瘤干细胞新的特异性标志物,以及肿瘤的临床诊断和治疗具有积极意义.     

细胞量少的卵巢癌腹腔液漏诊和过度诊断的实验分析

目的探讨细胞量少的卵巢癌腹腔液的漏诊及过度诊断情况及原因。方法建立卵巢癌腹水模型,分阴性组和4个阳性组,即4 ml良性腹腔冲洗液中有0、5、10、20、40个卵巢癌SKOV3细胞,每组重复3次,以观察HE和免疫细胞化学染色切片、磁激活细胞分选(magnetic activated cell sorting,MACS)联合流式细胞鉴定的方法检测该模型。结果判断阴性组的样本中无癌细胞,部分阳性组样本中有癌细胞;Ep CAM、Calretinin均阳性,Pax-8、CK5/6部分阳性;5组中均有EBA-1免疫荧光阳性的上皮细胞,阳性率分别为13.6%、6.7%、9.0%、6.2%、6.3%。结论卵巢癌腹腔液中的细胞量少时,形态学观察癌细胞易造成漏诊,免疫细胞化学染色易出现假阳性,MACS不能有效分离其中的癌细胞,应采用新方法以识别分离腹腔液中的少量癌细胞。     

CD133+卵巢癌干细胞样细胞在血管内皮细胞中的分化

背景：大量研究证实,新生血管形成在肿瘤的生长、浸润以及转移过程中发挥重要作用。 目的：探讨CD133+卵巢癌干细胞样细胞向血管内皮细胞分化的特点。 方法：通过无血清培养方法从卵巢癌A2780细胞株中成功诱导出CD133⁺卵巢癌干细胞样细胞,在体外接种于铺或不铺Matrigel基质胶的96孔板内,观察不同时间点CD133⁺卵巢癌干细胞样细胞和人脐静脉内皮细胞形成管腔样结构能力。通过裸鼠皮下移植实验,免疫荧光法观察CD133⁺卵巢癌干细胞样细胞在卵巢癌血管新生中的作用。 结果与结论：CD133⁺卵巢癌干细胞样细胞和人脐静脉内皮细胞(阳性对照)在未铺 Matrigel基质胶上并不能形成相应的管腔结构,且不表达内皮细胞标志物CD31,在Matrigel基质胶上能够形成相对稳定的管腔结构,CD31表达明显。CD133⁺卵巢癌干细胞样细胞接种裸鼠皮下成瘤后,可观察到肿瘤组织中有人源性CD31的表达。结果表明CD133⁺卵巢癌干细胞样细胞能够分化为血管内皮细胞,参与肿瘤血管重建。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程     

以EdU体外标记人脐带间充质干细胞：5，10 µmol/L是其最适浓度

背景：EdU为新一代细胞核标记物,目前对此标记的研究较少。 目的：采取EdU标记人脐带间充质干细胞,筛选出EdU标记人脐带间充质干细胞的最适浓度。 方法：采用组织块法分离、纯化及传代培养人脐带间充质干细胞,倒置显微镜观察其形态及生长情况,流式细胞仪鉴定细胞表面标志物,并进行成脂诱导分化能力鉴定。分别采用5,10,20,50,100 µmol/L浓度的EdU标记脐带间充质干细胞24 h,选择标记率最高的优化浓度,绘制细胞增殖曲线。 结果与结论：倒置显微镜下观察细胞为贴壁生长,形态为长梭形,且EdU标记后的细胞形态与其一致,流式细胞仪检测CD44呈阳性表达,成脂诱导后具有向脂肪细胞分化的能力。5,10 µmol/L EdU的标记率最高,两种浓度标记的人脐带间充质干细胞生长曲线未见明显差异,故5,10 µmol/L是体外标记人脐带间充质干细胞的最适浓度。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程     

人脐带间充质干细胞的分离鉴定及多向诱导分化

背景：脐带间充质干细胞取材方便、无创,不受伦理学限制,比一般干细胞原始,免疫原性小,其应用前景广阔,是一种理想的种子细胞。 目的：分离鉴定脐带间充质干细胞,并诱导其向成骨细胞和成脂细胞分化。 方法：组织块贴壁法分离纯化脐带间充质干细胞,取对数生长期的第3代细胞,观察细胞形态、生长方式;流式细胞仪检测干细胞表型CD90、CD105、CD34和CD45的表达情况,并在体外检测能否将其诱导分化为成脂细胞及成骨细胞。 结果与结论：用组织块法成功分离培养出脐带间充质干细胞,流式细胞学鉴定显示细胞强表达CD90和CD105,不表达CD34和CD45;能在体外将其成功诱导为脂肪细胞和成骨细胞。结果显示组织块贴壁法能够从人脐带中分离出间充质干细胞,该细胞可向成脂细胞及成骨细胞分化。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

组织工程血管种子细胞的研究进展

组织工程血管种子细胞的来源、制取、培养分化、验证及种植已成为组织工程血管研究的关键步骤。目前常用的种子细胞是血管内皮细胞，干细胞如内皮前体细胞、间充质干细胞、脂肪干细胞等，尤其是间充质干细胞及脂肪干细胞具有易于分离培养、增殖能力强和可定向分化为内皮细胞及平滑肌细胞的特点而成为热点研究的种子细胞，干细胞的研究进展将会促进组织工程血管的临床应用。     

酶消化法分离和培养人源原代跟腱干细胞

目的建立人胎儿来源跟腱干细胞的分离方法,并对人源跟腱干细胞的生物学特性进行鉴定。方法采用酶消化法从胎儿跟腱组织中分离培养跟腱干细胞;通过光学显微镜观察细胞形态;CCK-8法测定细胞增殖能力;流式细胞术检测表面抗原的表达情况;分别用成骨、成脂和成软骨诱导培养液诱导其分化,RT-qPCR鉴定分化标记基因表达;同时对跟腱干细胞蛋白表达进行检测,探究其生物学特性。结果从胎儿来源的跟腱组织中提取的跟腱干细胞具有特征性的细胞形态;在P3代以内,细胞增殖差异无统计学意义;细胞高表达CD44、CD90,不表达CD34、CD45;细胞通过诱导分化后成功向骨、脂肪及软骨细胞分化,相关性基因表达升高;人源跟腱干细胞表达CollagenⅠ、CollagenⅢ、Tenascin-C、Scleraxis。结论酶消化法是分离、培养跟腱干细胞的有效办法,跟腱干细胞表达与跟腱损伤修复有关的蛋白,为跟腱干细胞的鉴定及临床应用提供理论依据。     

转染IL-21的CD34~+脐血造血干细胞抗裸鼠卵巢癌作用研究

目的 探讨IL-21转染的脐血造血干细胞(CD34~+UBSC·IL-21)对荷卵巢癌裸鼠的治疗作用.方法 从脐血分离CD34~+造血干细胞,体外培养扩增后用于重组体pIRES2-IL-21-EGFP转染.以肿瘤大小、荷瘤鼠生存期判断CD34~+UBSC-IL-21对荷瘤裸鼠的治疗效应.以RT-PCR、免疫荧光、ELISA、Western blot、脾细胞增殖试验及免疫组化法分别鉴定CD34~+UBSC和肿瘤组织中IL-21的表达及活性.裸鼠脾细胞中NK细胞含量及脾细胞的杀伤效应、血清中IFN-γ和TNF-α水平分别用FCM与ELISA检测.结果 pIRES2-IL-21-EGFP成功转染CD34~+UBSC.CD34~+UBSC-IL-21能抑制肿瘤生长,延长荷瘤裸鼠生存期,治疗鼠肿瘤局部能表达IL-21、血清IFN-γ和TNF-α水平升高,NK细胞含量及NK细胞杀伤活性明显增强,与其他组相比,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).结论 转染IL-21的CD34~+UBSC有良好的抗裸鼠卵巢癌作用,该结果为临床使用UBSC为载体的基因治疗卵巢癌研究奠定了基础.     

Ovarian cancer cells with the CD117 phenotype are highly tumorigenic and are related to chemotherapy outcome

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an important role in the recurrence and drug resistance of cancer. Isolation and characterization of CSCs from ovarian cancer samples may help to provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets in the management of recurrent disease and drug resistance in ovarian cancer. Here, we developed a xenograft model in which cells from 14 samples of human ovarian serous adenocarcinoma tissue or ascites were implanted in immunodeficient mice to test the tumorigenic potential of different populations of ovarian cancer cells. We identified and isolated the tumorigenic cells as CD117⁺Lineage⁻ from three different xenografts. As few as 10³ cells with the CD117⁺Lineage⁻ phenotype, which comprise < 2% of the xenograft tumor cells, were able to regenerate tumors in a mouse model, a 100-fold increase in tumorigenic potential compared to CD117⁻Lineage⁻ cells. The tumors that arose from purified CD117⁺Lineage⁻ cells reproduced the original tumor heterogeneity and could be serially generated, demonstrating the ability to self-renew and to differentiate, two defining properties of stem cells. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry analysis of 25 patients with advanced ovarian serous adenocarcinoma revealed positive immunostaining for CD117 in 40% (10 of 25) of patients. CD117 expression was statistically correlated with resistance to conventional chemotherapy (P = 0.027). In conclusion, our study demonstrates that human ovarian cancer cells with the CD117⁺ phenotype possess the unique properties of CSCs, including self-renewal, differentiation, a high tumorigenic potential, and chemoresistance. Future studies designed to target CD117⁺ cancer cells may identify more attractive and effective therapies for treatment of ovarian cancer.     

Cancer stem cell hypothesis in thyroid cancer

There is increasing evidence that many types of cancer contain their own stem cells: cancer stem cells, which are characterized by their self-renewing capacity and differentiation ability. Cancer could be regarded as an abnormal organ initiated by cancer stem cells, and cancer stem cells might play a decisive role in tumor initiation and progression. Dysregulation of stem cell self-renewal is a likely requirement for the development of cancer, and stem cells seem more likely to be the transformed target cells in carcinogenesis. This cancer stem cell model has great implications for understanding of oncogenesis and treatment for cancer. Abundant evidence suggests that, parallel to other solid tumors, cancer stem cells also exist in thyroid cancer, although their characteristics are largely unknown to date. The present review will discuss the potential traits of cancer stem cells in thyroid cancer and their transformation targets: stem cells in the thyroid gland.     

Ovarian cancer stem cells promote tumour immune privilege and invasion via CCL5 and regulatory T cells

Emerging evidence indicates a link between the increased proportion of regulatory T cells (T_regs) and reduced survival in patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been indicated to play a vital role in tumour initiation, drug resistance and recurrence. However, the relationship between T_regs and CSCs remains largely unknown. Here, we sorted out ovarian cancer stem‐like side population (SP) cells and CD133⁺ cells to investigate the influence of ovarian CSCs on T_regs. Among the various immune‐related molecules that we assessed, C‐C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) was the most elevated in ovarian CSCs relative to that in the non‐CSCs. The expression of its receptor, C‐C motif chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5), was also increased on the surface of T_regs in ovarian cancer patients. This receptor‐ligand expression profile indicated that ovarian CSCs recruit T_regs via CCL5–CCR5 interactions. We further assessed the expression of interleukin (IL)‐10 in T_regs cultured with different cancer cells. T_regs cultured in conditioned medium (CM) from ovarian CD133⁺ cells expressed a higher level of IL‐10 than T_regs cultured in CM from CD133^– cells, indicating that T_regs exert pronounced immune‐inhibitory functions in CSC‐rich environments. Furthermore, co‐culture with ovarian cancer cell lines induced the expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP9) in T_regs which, in turn, enhanced the degradation of the extracellular matrix and enabled the invasion of tumour cells, thereby facilitating tumour metastasis. For the first time, to our knowledge, our findings describe the relationship between ovarian CSCs and T_regs, and demonstrated that these two cell populations co‐operate to promote tumour immune tolerance and enhance tumour progression.     

Let-7维持乳腺癌干细胞的特性及机制的研究

目的:研究let-7在乳腺癌干细胞中的表达,探索let-7影响乳腺癌干细胞的特性及机制。方法:采用SP分选法,分选乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7中的SP及NSP细胞亚群;运用实时定量PCR法检测MCF-7细胞系中SP、NSP亚群let-7a/b/c的表达;通过Western blot法检测Ras、ERK蛋白在MCF-7细胞系中SP、NSP亚群中的表达,探索let-7维持乳腺癌干细胞特性的机制。结果:SP侧群细胞占MCF-7细胞的3.3%,加入维拉帕米抑制干细胞外排荧光染料Hoechst33342的功能后,SP侧群细胞占乳腺癌MCF-7细胞的比例下降至0.4%。Let-7miRNA在SP细胞中的表达低于NSP细胞,其中let-7b/c在SP及NSP亚群中表达差异最大;p-Ras、p-ERK在SP细胞中的表达高于NSP细胞,t-Ras及t-ERK的表达无明显差异。结论:SP法是一种可有效分离干细胞的方法,乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7中存在肿瘤干细胞亚群;let-7在乳腺癌干细胞中的表达低于普通肿瘤细胞,而p-Ras、p-ERK在乳腺癌干细胞中的表达高于普通肿瘤细胞,let-7的低表达失去了对Ras mRNA的抑制,使Ras信号转导通路激活,进而磷酸化的p-Ras和p-ERK表达升高,维持乳腺癌干细胞的功能。     

Notch通路介导的microRNAs对肝癌干细胞的调节作用

肝癌干细胞(hepatic cancer stem cells,HSCs)是存在于肝细胞癌中的一类具有干细胞特性的细胞,与肝癌的形成、 生长、 转移、 药物耐受和复发有密切关系.microRNAs(miRNAs)是一种长约19~22 nt的短链非编码RNA,在细胞众多的生化活动中起着重要的调节作用,通过作用于细胞中关键信号通路的重要节点分子调控肿瘤的发生发展.而Notch信号通路是调控肿瘤干细胞自我更新、 增殖和分化过程的最重要的信号通路之一.miRNAs在Notch信号通路中的作用如何?miRNAs通过靶向作用于Notch信号通路进而发挥调控肝癌干细胞的自我更新、 分化及致癌性作用的机制是什么?这均是本文重点阐述的问题.     

Systemic mesenchymal stem cells reduce growth rate of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer is one of the most malignant cancers in women and resistant to chemotherapy is the major obstacle for the five-year survival rate. Cisplatin is one of the effective anticancer drug used in the ovarian cancer. To find a good strategy to cure the tumors which is resistant to cisplatin, the cisplatin-resistant 3SKOV3 cells were selected from SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, the isolated mesenchymal stem cells were infused systemically to try to cure the transplanted tumor induced by 3SKOV3 cells in nude mice. The morphology and cell membrane CD44 expression were investigated by microscope and flow cytometry. The biological behaviors of resistant 3SKOV3 and its parental SKOV3 cells, including proliferation, adhesion, and cell cycle were determined by CCK8, absorbance assay and FCM methods. The transplanted tumors were set up in nude mice with 3SKOV3 cells injection. The growth rate of transplanted tumors was detected following with MSCs injection. The 3SKOV3 cells have different morphologic manifestation and expressed high level of CD44 molecule. At the same time, 3SKOV3 cells have less adhesion ability and less S-phase ratio. The isolated MSCs from bone marrow could inhibit the growth of transplanted tumor via systemic injection. The cisplatin-resistant 3SKOV3 cells have the different biological behaviors as its parental SKOV3 cells. The present study indicated that systemic MSCs have the therapeutic role on ovarian cancer. However, further investigations are in progress to elucidate the underlying mechanism.     

干细胞标志分子LGR5研究：肿瘤治疗新靶点

背景：近期研究表明,肿瘤干细胞在肿瘤的发生发展中起关键性作用,因此对其标记分子的研究必将对肿瘤发生发展的了解及肿瘤的临床诊断、治疗都带来深远的影响。 目的：综述干细胞标志分子LGR5在干细胞和肿瘤干细胞中的研究进展。 方法：由第一作者在PubMed数据库及万方数据库中检索1998年1月至2014年12月有关LGR5与干细胞/肿瘤干细胞研究的相关文献。英文检索词为“LGR5, stem cell, cancer stem cells”,中文关键词为“LGR5,干细胞,肿瘤干细胞”。计算机初检得到178篇文献,阅读标题和摘要进行初筛,排除与研究目的相关性差及内容陈旧、重复的文献123篇,纳入55篇符合标准的文献。 结果与结论：LGR5是肠道、胃、毛囊等干细胞的表面标志分子,并与结直肠癌、胃癌、肺癌、卵巢癌、肝癌、基底细胞癌等多种肿瘤的发生发展预后密切相关,是肿瘤干细胞的候选标志分子,有望成为肿瘤治疗的新靶点。研究发现R-spondins(RSPOs)是LGR5的高亲和力配体,二者相结合参与 Wnt信号通路,调节细胞增殖分化。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

Cancer cell‐derived lymphotoxin mediates reciprocal tumour–stromal interactions in human ovarian cancer by inducing CXCL11 in fibroblasts

We have investigated the role of cytokine lymphotoxin in tumour–stromal interactions in human ovarian cancer. We found that lymphotoxin overexpression is commonly shared by the cancer cells of various ovarian cancer subtypes, and lymphotoxin‐beta receptor (LTBR) is expressed ubiquitously in both the cancer cells and cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs). In monoculture, we showed that ovarian cancer cells are not the major lymphotoxin‐responsive cells. On the other hand, our co‐culture studies demonstrated that the cancer cell‐derived lymphotoxin induces chemokine expression in stromal fibroblasts through LTBR–NF‐κB signalling. Amongst the chemokines being produced, we found that fibroblast‐secreted CXCL11 promotes proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells via the chemokine receptor CXCR3. CXCL11 is highly expressed in CAFs in ovarian cancer biopsies, while CXCR3 is found in malignant cells in primary ovarian tumours. Additionally, the overexpression of CXCR3 is significantly associated with the tumour grade and lymph node metastasis of ovarian cancer, further supporting the role of CXCR3, which interacts with CXCL11, in promoting growth and metastasis of human ovarian cancer. Taken together, these results demonstrated that cancer‐cell‐derived lymphotoxin mediates reciprocal tumour–stromal interactions in human ovarian cancer by inducing CXCL11 in fibroblasts. Our findings suggest that lymphotoxin–LTBR and CXCL11–CXCR3 signalling represent therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer. Copyright © 2013 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular pathology of gastric cancer: research and practice

Recent advances in the understanding of molecular stomach carcinogenesis are reviewed. As to molecular events in individual mucin phenotypes of gastric cancer, the CDX2-Reg IV-SOX9 pathway is associated with the intestinal mucin phenotype, while OLFM4 and CLDN18 are novel markers for the gastric phenotype. microRNAs play an important role in epigenetic deregulation in gastric cancer. Many microRNAs are up-regulated and down-regulated, and some of these are associated with histological differentiation and cancer progression. Reduced miR-200 may participate in the genesis of diffuse type gastric cancer by reducing E-cadherin expression. Genetic polymorphism is a crucial endogenous cause and a fundamental factor of cancer risk. PSCA polymorphism alters the susceptibility to diffuse type gastric cancer through modulation of cell proliferation activity. Cancer stem cells possess the capacity for self-renewal and cause the heterogeneous lineages of cancer cells. Cancer stem cells also show resistance to anti-tumor chemotherapy. Only a minor population of gastric cancer cells reveals the properties of cancer stem cells, and CD44 is one of the markers for gastric cancer stem cells. The origin of gastric cancer stem cells remains to be elucidated.     

The Anti-Mullerian hormone and ovarian cancer

The Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), which is produced by fetal Sertoli cells, is responsible for regression of Mullerian ducts, the anlagen for uterus and Fallopian tubes, during male sex differentiation. Ovarian granulosa cells also secrete AMH from late in fetal life. The patterns of expression of AMH and its type II receptor in the post-natal ovary indicate that AMH may play an important role in ovarian folliculogenesis. Recent advances in the physiological role of AMH has stimulated interest in the significance of AMH as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer. Currently, AMH has been shown to be a circulating marker specifically for granulosa cell tumour (GCT). Its diagnostic performance seems to be very good, with a sensitivity ranging between 76 and 93%. In patients treated for GCT, AMH may be used post-operatively as marker for the efficacy of surgery and for disease recurrence. Based on the physiological inhibitory role of AMH in the Mullerian ducts, it has been proposed that AMH may inhibit epithelial ovarian cancer cell both in vitro and in vivo. These observations will be the basis for future research aiming to investigate the possible clinical role of AMH as neo-adjuvant, or most probably adjuvant, therapy for ovarian cancer.