Objective       To seek evidence to support the synergic effect of guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) downstream of crk with moleculer weight of 180kDa of human (Dock180) and engulfment and cell motility1 (Elmo1) in ovarian cancer cells.       Methods        Dock180 and Elmo1 expression were detected by Western blotting in ovarian cancer tissues (EOC

n=29)

benign ovarian tumors (BOT

n=14) and normal ovary tissues (Normal

n=10). Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the distribution of Dock180 and Elmo1 in the ovarian cancer tissues. Immunofluorescence staining was utilized to detect the location and distribution of Dock180 and Elmo1 in ovarian cancer cell SKOV3. And finally

endogenous Elmo1 expression was assayed in Dock180 knockdown cells

which was established previously.       Results       Both Dock180 and Elmo1 expression presented at higher levels in EOC than those in benign and normal ovarian tissues (P0.05)

and no significant difference was found between BOT and normal group either for Dock180 or Elmo1 expression（Dock180: 1.054±0.114

0.518±0.126

0.425±0.072; Elmo1: 0.864±0.114

0.374±0.076

0.300±0.105

  P0.05）.Dock180 expression displayed a consistence with that of Elmo1 in EOC tissues（r=0.829

P0.05）．Their co-expression was also observed through immunohistochemical staining in EOC tissues. Moreover

consistent distribution of these two molecules was shown in SKOV3 cells through immunofluorescence staining. Finally

Dock180-knockdown SKOV3 cells presented with evidently decreased expression of Elmo1

as compared with wild-type

negative and mock controls.       Conclusion       Co-expression of Dock180 and Elmo1 in EOC tissues and their consistent distribution in ovarian cancer cells support their synergistic effect in the pathogenesis of EOC.