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Heterotypic Three-dimensional In Vitro Modeling of Stromal-Epithelial Interactions During Ovarian Cancer Initiation and Progression
Published on: August 28, 2012
p63 expression in epithelial ovarian tumors
O B Poli Neto1, F J Candido Dos Reis, L N Zambelli Ramalho
1Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. omeropoli@yahoo.com.br
Summary
The tumor suppressor p63 protein is highly expressed in benign ovarian tumors but significantly decreases in malignant ovarian cancers. This suggests p63 plays a role in ovarian epithelial cell behavior and tumorigenesis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Gynecologic Pathology
Background:
- Ovarian cancer is a lethal disease with poorly understood biology.
- p63, a homologue of the tumor suppressor p53, is crucial for reproductive epithelium development and differentiation.
- p63 interacts with p53 in human tumorigenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunoexpression of p63 in benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors.
- To determine the correlation between p63 expression levels and tumor type (benign, borderline, malignant).
Main Methods:
- Evaluated p63 immunoexpression using a monoclonal antibody (clone 4A4) in 91 benign and 29 malignant ovarian tumors.
- Defined p63 positivity as nuclear immunostaining in 5% or more of tumor cells.
Main Results:
- High p63 positivity was observed in benign tumors (85.7%) and borderline tumors (50%).
- Significantly lower p63 positivity was found in invasive ovarian cancer (8.7%) (P < .0001).
- Benign serous cystadenomas showed 91.9% positivity, while benign mucinous cystadenomas showed 72.4% positivity.
Conclusions:
- p63 expression is significantly reduced in malignant ovarian tumors compared to benign counterparts.
- These findings suggest a critical role for p63 in controlling ovarian epithelium behavior.
- p63 may be involved in the pathogenesis of both benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors.
