Calcium Dependent FAK/CREB/TNNC1 Signaling Mediates the Effect of Stromal MFAP5 on Ovarian Cancer Metastatic Potential

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy in the United States, and advanced serous ovarian adenocarcinoma is responsible for most ovarian cancer deaths. However, the stroma-derived molecular determinants that modulate patient survival have yet to be characterized. Here we identify a stromal gene signature for advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer using microdissected stromal ovarian tumor samples and find that stromal microfibrillar-associated protein 5 (MFAP5) is a prognostic marker for poor survival. Further functional studies reveal that FAK/CREB/TNNC1 signaling pathways mediate the effect of MFAP5 on ovarian cancer cell motility and invasion potential. Targeting stromal MFAP5 using MFAP5 specific siRNA encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles significantly decreases ovarian tumor growth and metastasis in vivo, suggesting that it may be a new modality of ovarian cancer treatment.