Studies on individual types of gynecological cancers (GCs), utilizing novel expression technologies, have revealed specific pathogenetic patterns and gene markers for cervical (CC), endometrial (EC) and vulvar cancer (VC). Although the clinical phenotypes of the three types of gynecological cancers are discrete, the fact they originate from a common embryological origin, has led to the hypothesis that they might share common features reflecting regression to early embryogenesis. To address this question, we performed a comprehensive comparative analysis of their profiles. Our data identified both common features (pathways and networks) and novel distinct modules controlling the same deregulated biological processes in all three types. Specifically, four novel transcriptional modules were discovered regulating cell cycle and apoptosis. Integration and comparison of our data with other databases, led to the identification of common features among cancer types, embryonic stem (ES) cells and the newly discovered cell population of squamocolumnar (SC) junction of the cervix, considered to host the early cancer events. Conclusively, these data lead us to propose the presence of common features among gynecological cancers, other types of cancers, ES cells and the pre-malignant SC junction cells, where the novel E2F/NFY and MAX/CEBP modules play an important role for the pathogenesis of gynecological carcinomas.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) constitute a population of multipotent adherent cells able to give rise to multiple mesenchymal lineages such as osteoblasts, adipocytes, or chondrocytes. So far, the most common source of MSCs has been the bone marrow (BM); however BM-MSC harvesting and processing exhibits major drawbacks and limitations. Thus, identification and characterization of alternative sources of MSCs are of great importance. In the present study, we isolated and expanded fetal MSCs from second-trimester amniotic fluid (AF). We documented that these cells are of embryonic origin, can differentiate under appropriate conditions into cell types derived from all three germ layers, and express the pluripotency marker Oct-4, the human Nanog protein, and the stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA-4). Furthermore, we systematically tested the immunophenotype of cultured MSCs by flow cytometry analysis using a wide variety of markers. Direct comparison of this phenotype to the one derived from cultured BM-MSCs demonstrated that cultured MSCs from both sources exhibit similar expression patterns. Using the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) approach, we have generated for the first time the protein map of cultured AF-MSCs by identifying 261 proteins, and we compared it directly to that of cultured BM-MSCs. The functional pattern of the identified proteins from both sources was similar. However, cultured AF-MSCs displayed a number of unique proteins related to proliferation and primitive phenotype, which may confer to the distinct features of the two types. Considering the easy access to this new cell source and the yield of expanded MSCs for stem cell research, AF may provide an excellent source of MSCs both for basic research and for potential therapeutic applications.