What is the role of prostasin in ovarian cancer?

David A. Fishman, MD on behalf of The Mount Sinai Health System

Gynecologic Oncology

Prostasin is a trypsin-like serine protease with a molecular weight of 40-kDa. It is physiologically found at its highest levels in the prostate and semen. Lower levels are expressed by the bronchi, lungs, liver, kidneys, colon and salivary glands. Prostasin is found at elevated levels in ovarian cancers, especially those of nonmucinous epithelial origin. Real-time RT-PCR has been used to show that ovarian cancers produce more prostasin than normal ovarian tissue by a factor of 120 to 410. Prostasin levels are decreased following surgical intervention.

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