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| Year : 2012 | Volume
: 55
| Issue : 1 | Page : 33-37 |
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| The expression of immunohistochemical markers estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Her-2-neu, p53 and Ki-67 in epithelial ovarian tumors and its correlation with clinicopathologic variables |
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Mary T Sylvia1, Surendra Kumar1, Papa Dasari2
1 Department of Pathology, JIPMER, Puducherry, India
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, JIPMER, Puducherry, India
Click here for correspondence address and email
| Date of Web Publication | 11-Apr-2012 |
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 Abstract | | |
Background: This study aims to evaluate the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ER α), progesterone receptor A (PRA), Her-2-neu, p53, and Ki-67 in epithelial ovarian tumors and their correlation with various clinicopathologic variables. Materials and Methods: This study included 60 consecutive cases of epithelial ovarian tumors. Sections of 4 μm were taken from paraffin embedded tissue blocks for immunohistochemistry (IHC). Statistical analysis was done using Chi square test, ANOVA. Results: ER α had lower expression in benign (29%) and PRA higher expression in malignant (63.6%) tumors. ERα, PRA had higher expression in serous (72.72%, 57.14%), postmenopausal (81.8%, 71.42%), advanced stage (63.63%, 52.38%), grade 3 (45.45%, 38.09%), and tumors with ascites (90.90%, 85.7%). Her-2-neu, p53 were negative in benign and higher in malignant (21%, 57.6%), serous (71.42%, 57.89%), grade 3 (57.14%, 31.57%), and tumors with ascites (85.7%, 84.21%). Ki-67 had a significant higher expression in malignant (48.6± 26.76), serous (55.43± 27.85), and grade 3 tumors (68 ± 22). CA-125 levels were significantly higher in malignant, serous, advanced stage, grade 3 and ER α, Her-2-neu and p53 positive tumors. Conclusion: ERα, PRA expression in tumors with adverse prognostic factors support the mitogenic role of estrogen and estrogenic regulation of PR. Her-2-neu and p53 expression only in malignant tumors suggest their carcinogenic role and aid in the differentiation of borderline and malignant tumors. Higher Ki-67 in tumors with adverse prognostic factors would help in prognostication and differentiation. Lack of co-expression of markers proves the extreme heterogeneity of ovarian tumors. These markers may aid in differentiation and prognostication of ovarian tumors. Keywords: Epithelial ovarian tumors, Her-2-neu, Ki-67, p53, steroid receptors
How to cite this article:
Sylvia MT, Kumar S, Dasari P. The expression of immunohistochemical markers estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Her-2-neu, p53 and Ki-67 in epithelial ovarian tumors and its correlation with clinicopathologic variables. Indian J Pathol Microbiol 2012;55:33-7 |
How to cite this URL:
Sylvia MT, Kumar S, Dasari P. The expression of immunohistochemical markers estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Her-2-neu, p53 and Ki-67 in epithelial ovarian tumors and its correlation with clinicopathologic variables. Indian J Pathol Microbiol [serial online] 2012 [cited 2023 Jun 7];55:33-7. Available from: https://www.ijpmonline.org/text.asp?2012/55/1/33/94852 |
| Introduction | |  |
Each year, over 22,000 women are diagnosed worldwide with epithelial ovarian cancer and 15,000 die of it. [1] The etiology and pathogenesis are still poorly understood. The overall prognosis is poor with current treatment modalities. In the absence of definite etiologic factors and effective tools of screening, the only possible means of improving survival would be to develop effective targeted therapy. This requires a complete understanding of the pathogenesis of the tumors.
Ovarian tumors are heterogenous. Insight into their pathogenesis requires understanding of the mutations involved, overexpression of oncogenes and role of cell cycle regulators. There have been persistent efforts in the investigation of molecular markers in epithelial ovarian tumors, but the results are controversial.
The aims of this study were to evaluate the expression of five common molecular pathways namely estrogen receptor alpha (ER α), progesterone receptor A (PRA), Her-2-neu, p53, and Ki-67 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and to compare it with clinicopathologic prognostic factors of ovarian tumors namely age, histological type, tumor grade, stage, CA-125 levels and the presence of ascites.
| Materials and Methods | | |
This study included 60 consecutive cases of epithelial ovarian tumors received in the Department of Pathology from August 2009 to July 2011. The hematoxylin and eosin stained sections from the tumor specimens were studied. Representative 4 μm sections were taken from paraffin embedded tissue blocks for IHC which was performed according to heat induced epitope retrieval method with specific antibodies against ERα, PRA, Her-2-neu, p53, and Ki-67. CA-125 levels and clinical details were collected from the case records. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants. Statistical analysis was done by Chi square, Kruskal Wallis, and ANOVA (analysis of overall variance) tests using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software (Version 16)
| Results | | |
Among the 60 cases, 33 cases were malignant 55%, 17 (28%) benign, and 10 (17%) borderline tumors. The median age of patients was higher in malignant tumors (50 years) as compared to benign and borderline tumors (40 years). Serous tumors were the most common type [Figure 1]. The tumor characteristics are shown in [Table 1] and [Table 2]. Ascites was present in 26 of the 33 malignant cases.
Expression Profile of Immunohistochemical Markers
ERα and PRA expression
Expression of ERα was low in benign tumors (5/17cases, 29%) compared to malignant (11/33 cases, 33%) and borderline (4/10 cases, 40%). Serous tumors were the most common type in all three groups [Figure 2]. Mucinous tumors, clear cell carcinoma, and mixed tumors were negative for ERα.
PRA showed marginally higher expression in malignant cases (63.6%, 21 cases) [Figure 3] compared to borderline (60%,6 cases) and benign tumors (41.2%,7 cases). In PRA+ malignant tumors, 57.14% of the cases were serous, 14.28% were endometrioid, and 14.28% were mucinous. Clear cell carcinoma was negative.
Her-2-neu, p53 expression
Her-2-neu was negative in all benign tumors. Of the malignant tumors, 7 cases (21%) were positive (5 serous,1 mucinous, and 1 clear cell) [Figure 4]. p53 had higher positivity in malignant tumors (57.6%, 19 cases) (P=0.08, Chi square value-2.96) [Figure 5] with the majority being serous tumors (57.89%, 11 cases). Of the borderline tumors, 2 cases (20%) were positive. All the benign tumors were negative for p53. Mixed endometrioid, mucinous and clear cell carcinomas were negative for p53 and Her-2-neu. | Figure 4: Strong 3+ Her-2-neu positivity in Grade 3 serous tumor (IHC, ×400)
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Ki-67 index
Proliferation index was highest in malignant tumors (mean=48.6, SD=26.76) followed by borderline tumors (23.2 ± 21.55), and the lowest in benign tumors (2.17 ± 1.38). The difference between malignant and the other two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05, F = 26.26).
In malignant group, serous tumors had high index of 55.43% followed by endometrioid (50%), and the lowest in mucinous tumors (26.12%).
Association of Expression of Markers with Clinicopathologic Variables
ERα and PRA had a statistically significant higher expression in women with age >50 years (P<0.05) as compared to other markers [Table 3]. ERα and PRA expression were similar among all three grades and stages.
Analysis of CA-125 Levels
Levels of CA-125 were available for all benign, borderline and 29 of 33 malignant tumors. With a cut off point of 35 IU/ml for detecting malignant epithelial ovarian tumors, sensitivity was 73% and specificity was 99%. The levels were significantly higher in malignant tumors (275.46 IU/ml). Serous tumors had higher median levels (379.35 IU/ml). Median CA-125 levels were significantly increased in high grade (P=0.29) and advanced tumors (P=0.21) [Table 4]. CA-125 levels did not have a significant correlation with proliferation index.
Association Between Markers
Of the malignant tumors, 27.3% were ERα+PRA+ and 15% were ERα+p53+. Co-expression of Her-2-neu was more with PRA (4 cases) as compared to ERα (1 case). With regard to p53, PR were co-expressed in 42.42% of cases were p53+PRA+ and 18.18% of cases were p53+Her-2-neu+. There was no significant association between the markers.
Triple Negative Tumors
Of the 33 malignant tumors, 8 cases (24.24%) were triple negative tumors (ERα-, PRA- and Her-2-neu-). Among the eight cases, six were serous, and one case each in mucinous and endometrioid tumor. There were no grade 3 tumors. Advanced stage tumors consisted of three cases with the rest being in early stage. p53 was positive in four cases. The mean Ki-67 index of tumors was 51± 24. Mean CA-125 levels were lower in these tumors (39.2 IU/ ml) as compared to the non triple negative tumors (348 IU/ml).
| Discussion | | |
Malignant tumors were the most common with serous carcinomas being the predominant type as previously reported.
ERα expression was higher in borderline and malignant tumors as compared to benign cases which similar to the findings of Damiao et al. [4] Agarwal et al. [5] had reported that benign tumors were negative for steroid receptors and that serous tumors had more expression as compared to mucinous tumors. Serous tumors, age >50 years, tumours with ascites and higher CA-125 levels had higher expression of ERα similar to previous studies [5] suggesting a mitogenic role for estrogen. Buchynska et al. [6] demonstrated that higher grade tumors had lower ERα expression. This is in contrast to our study which showed the similar expression in low grade and high grade tumors.
Clear cell and mucinous are genetically and epidemiologically distinct cancers and are among the least likely to express ERα and PR. [3]
In contrast to previous studies, [7] PRA expression was similar to ERα, with higher expression in malignant, serous tumors, postmenopausal age group, advanced stage, and grade 3 tumors. This is in contrast to the study by Lau et al. [8] who found a decrease in PRA expression with grade 3 and advanced stage tumors. CA-125 levels were low in PRA positive tumors. PRA expression had significant association with postmenopausal age group. This is in contrast to many of previous studies, in particular the study by Hecht et al. [7] Thus, PRA may also play a carcinogenic role or rather PR is regulated by estrogen and therefore a high PR content in conjunction with high ER expression is likely to be indicative of estrogen-regulated disease. [9],[10]
Her-2-neu was negative in all grade 1 tumors and all benign cases, higher in grade 2 and 3 tumors in concordance to previous studies. [11] Most of these tumors had higher association with ascites suggesting an aggressive tumor type and advanced stages which is similar to the study by Hellstrom et al. [11] p53 was negative in all benign tumors but positive in half of malignant cases. This is in concordance with previous studies which showed mutation in or inactivation of p53 in 46% [12] of invasive ovarian tumors, but in only 8% of borderline (low malignant potential) tumors and virtually nonexistent in benign tumors or normal ovarian epithelium. [13]
Malignant tumors, serous group, and grade 3 tumors had significant higher proliferation index similar to previous results. [14]
Though CA-125levels were maximum in malignant tumors, 27.56% cases had normal CA-125 levels which were predominantly early stage tumors. Zorn et al. [15] have showed that 7.6% of patients with malignant tumors have normal levels.
Triple negative tumors occur in advanced age and have aggressive course with poor prognosis according to literature. [16] However, in our study, these tumors were more common in younger age group, were of lower grade and stage, and were serous tumors with a lower CA-125 levels.
| Conclusion | | |
ERα expression in tumors with adverse prognostic factors supports the mitogenic role of estrogen in ovarian tumors. Similar pattern of PRA expression may be related to the estrogenic regulation of PR and the complex interaction between the steroid receptors which further needs to be analyzed. The expression of steroid receptors paves way for anti hormonal therapy. Her-2-neu and p53 were expressed only in malignant tumors suggesting their carcinogenic role and help in the differentiation of borderline and malignant tumors. Ki-67 index was higher in tumors with adverse prognostic factors. Hence, it would help in prognostication and differentiation of the three morphological types. CA125 levels reflect the tumor bulk and the median levels were higher in tumors with adverse prognostic factors. There was no significant co-expression of the markers proving the extreme heterogeneity of ovarian tumors. Thus, a panel of these markers would help in the differential diagnosis of borderline and malignant cases, prognostication of ovarian tumors and the development of targeted therapy.
| Acknowledgment | | |
Dr. Hari Chandra Kumar, Department of Biostatistics, JIPMER.
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Correspondence Address:
Surendra Kumar
Department of Pathology, JIPMER, Korimedu, Puducherry
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0377-4929.94852
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5]
[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4] |
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