[Mucin histochemical and immunohistochemical studies of mucinous ovarian tumors]

Mucinous ovarian tumors, (32 benign, 5 borderline, and 30 malignant) were studied by using mucin histochemical staining and immunohistochemical method. Results showed that neutral and acid mucoproteins were demonstrated in these tumors; but their proportion and distribution were different. For instance, sulfuric acid mucoprotein was found in 12/32 (37.5%) of mucinous cystadenomas and in 25/30 (83.3%) of mucinous cystadenocarcinomas (P less than 0.01). Immunohistochemically, colon-ovarian tumor antigen (COTA) was 100% positive in malignant and borderline cases respectively but only 6/32 (18.8%) in the benign. The differences were statistically significant (P less than 0.01). Meanwhile, the differences between COTA staining and HID/AB staining for cystadenocarcinomas were also significant (P less than 0.05). These data suggest that COTA is more sensitive and specific antigen for mucinous ovarian tumors and may be useful for the early detection of malignant changes of mucinous ovarian tumors.