Expression of lysophosphatidic acid receptors and vascular endothelial growth factor mediating lysophosphatidic acid in the development of human ovarian cancer

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors including LPA1, LPA2, and LPA3 mediate lysophosphatidic acid signals. We analyzed the expression of LPA receptors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and interleukin-8 in 97 patients from normal ovary to ovarian cancer, using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. LPA2, LPA3, and VEGF expression ratios significantly increased in cancer, compared to those in non-cancerous state (P<0.05). A significant correlation in the expression ratios between LPA2 or LPA3 and VEGF was found (γ=0.617, P<0.0001; γ=0.431, P<0.001) in patients with cancer. These results suggested that LPA2 and LPA3 may be involved in VEGF expression mediated by LPA signals in human ovarian oncogenesis.