High‐grade ovarian serous carcinoma exhibits significantly higher p16 expression than low‐grade serous carcinoma and serous borderline tumour
- 27 April 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Histopathology
- Vol. 50 (6), 773-779
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2559.2007.02682.x
Abstract
A dualistic pathway of ovarian serous carcinogenesis is now well established whereby high-grade serous carcinoma and low-grade serous carcinoma represent two distinct tumour types with a different underlying pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to compare expression of p16 INK4A (p16) in these two tumour types. We also included cases of serous borderline tumour, since these are considered to represent a precursor lesion of low-grade serous carcinoma. Cases of serous borderline tumour (n = 18), low-grade ovarian serous carcinoma (n = 22) and high-grade ovarian serous carcinoma (n = 24) were stained with a monoclonal antibody against p16. Cases were scored both with respect to intensity of immunoreactivity (weak, 1+; moderate, 2+; or strong, 3+) and distribution (0, negative or occasional positive cells; 1+, < 10% cells positive; 2+, 10-25% cells positive; 3+, 26-50% cells positive; 4+, 51-75% cells positive; or 5+, 76-100% cells positive). An immunohistochemical composite score was also calculated (0-15) by multiplying the intensity and distribution scores. There was a statistically significant difference in p16 immunoreactivity with respect to intensity, distribution and composite score between high-grade serous carcinoma and each of the other two groups, with the high-grade neoplasms exhibiting stronger and more diffuse positivity. Most high-grade serous carcinomas exhibited positivity of close to 100% of tumour cells. There was no significant difference in p16 expression between the borderline tumours and low-grade serous carcinomas. The increased expression of p16 in high-grade serous carcinoma compared with low-grade serous carcinoma and serous borderline tumour is in keeping with a different underlying pathogenesis. p16 may be implicated in the development of high-grade serous neoplasia within the ovary and elsewhere within the female genital tract.Keywords
This publication has 45 references indexed in Scilit:
- p16 Expression in the Female Genital Tract and Its Value in DiagnosisAdvances in Anatomic Pathology, 2006
- Immunohistochemistry for estrogen and progesterone receptors in the distinction of primary and metastatic mucinous tumors in the ovary: an analysis of 124 casesLaboratory Investigation, 2006
- Histologic and Immunohistochemical Characteristics of Neoplastic and Nonneoplastic Subgroups of Atypical Squamous Lesions of the Uterine CervixAmerican Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2005
- Histologic and Immunohistochemical Characteristics of Neoplastic and Nonneoplastic Subgroups of Atypical Squamous Lesions of the Uterine CervixAmerican Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2005
- Immunohistochemical Expression of p16INK4a and bcl-2 According to HPV Type and to the Progression of Cervical Squamous Intraepithelial LesionsJournal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry, 2005
- The presence of high‐risk HPV combined with specific p53 and p16INK4a expression patterns points to high‐risk HPV as the main causative agent for adenocarcinoma in situ and adenocarcinoma of the cervixThe Journal of Pathology, 2003
- p16INK4a Is a Useful Marker for the Diagnosis of Adenocarcinoma of the Cervix Uteri and Its PrecursorsThe American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2003
- p16INK4a Immunohistochemistry Improves Interobserver Agreement in the Diagnosis of Cervical Intraepithelial NeoplasiaThe American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2002
- WT1 Immunoreactivity in Uterine Papillary Serous Carcinomas Is Different From Ovarian Serous CarcinomasAmerican Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2002
- Expression Status of p16 Protein Is Associated with Human Papillomavirus Oncogenic Potential in Cervical and Genital LesionsThe American Journal of Pathology, 1998