engleski

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY OF BORDERLINE OVARIAN TUMOURS

In the period 1990-95 one hundred forty eight malignant epithelia! ovarian neoplasm's were diagnosed, ten of whom were borderline tumours (7 serous and 3 mucinous). Borderline epithelial tumours of the ovary (tumours of low malignant potential, LMP) still represent a great problem due to the lack of uniform pathohistological criteria and uncertain biological behaviour. Additional criteria for evaluation and prediction of biological behaviour of these tumours are obviously needed. In this study, we investigate proliferative kinetics of cells of LMP tumours. It is well known that these tumours, particularly mucinous, very often contain interspersed areas of well-differentiated as well as atypical cells. Expression of proliferative antigens (Ki-67 and PCNA) was studied using immunohistochemical methods Strept AB/AP and Strept AB/HRP after microwave antigen retrieval treatment. We also investigated the expression of c-erbB-2 and p53 by the same methods. In this study 8 LMP tumours were analysed. Two patients were lost from follow-up and were not included. Positive nuclear staining for Ki-67 was observed in 5 specimens. This reaction showed mosaic pattern, and was strongly positive in the areas showing epithelial atypia. PCNA nuclear positivity was found in 6 cases, independently of the degree of cell differentiation. Positive staining with c-erbB-2 protein antibody was obtained on the cell membrane in 5 tumours, and was mostly expressed in the areas showing eytological atypia. Positive nuclear reaction to p53 oncoprotein with mosaic pattern was found in 4 cases, particularly in the areas showing atypical epithelium. The expression of investigated antibodies in all specimens was strongly positive in areas showing cytological atypia and dedifferentiation, except of PCNA that showed positivity also in the areas without proliferative activity. Different expression of proliferative antigens was probably due to their regulation of the various phases of cell cycle. Expression of p53 and c-erbB-2 in investigated tumours probably indicate their potential aggressiveness. Our results of immunohistochemical expression of investigated antigens may be useful as an additional criteria in morphological evaluation of LMP ovarian neoplasm's, and may have a prognostic significance. Further studies of larger series are certainly needed.

BORDERLINE OVARIAN TUMOURS

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