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Published on: May 20, 2014
Sulfatides in ovarian tumors: clinicopathological correlates
A M Makhlouf1, M M Fathalla, M A Zakhary
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt. makhloufsalama@yahoo.com
Objectives:
To investigate the expression of sulfatides in the tissue homogenates of malignant ovarian tumors, benign ovarian tumors, and control tissues and to study the relation between this marker and other clinico-pathological criteria such as the tumor type, grade of differentiation, surgical stage and ovulatory years.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Biochemistry, Assuit university hospital.
Subjects:
Forty-six patients had malignant ovarian tumors. Sixteen patients had benign ovarian neoplasm. Thirty patients, with normal ovaries, represented the control group.
Methods:
A sample of the tumor or from the normal ovary (the control group) was sent for histopathological and biochemical examination. Sulfatides were measured by a rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method.
Results:
There was a significant rise in benign tumors [median and range 43 (38-53)], than in the control group, 21 (18-31), P-value = 0.000. In malignant tumors, the median value of sulfatides was significantly higher than in benign tumors [127 (71-193), P-value = 0.000]. Sulfatides were significantly higher in patients with more ovulatory years and tumors of advanced stages (stage III/IV) and poor differentiation.
Conclusions:
Sulfatides may play a role in the pathogenesis of benign and malignant ovarian tumors. It may also predict advanced stages in patients who are apparently early stage. It is also a candidate to study of their association with response to chemotherapy.
