Diagnostic utility of p57^Kip2, p53, and maspin in classifying hydatidiform moles

Accurate distinction between complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) and partial hydatidiform mole (PHM) is essential because these entities differ in their risk of progression to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. However, histopathological differentiation can be challenging, particularly in early or unclear cases. This study evaluated the diagnostic and biological relevance of p57^Kip2, p53, and maspin in molar pregnancies. A total of 232 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded products of conception were analyzed using tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry. p57^Kip2 expression was observed predominantly in PHMs (86.6%), whereas most CHMs (85.1%) lacked expression. p53 expression was significantly higher in CHMs (62.3%) than PHMs, while maspin expression showed no significant association with molar subtype. Correlation analysis demonstrated a positive association between p53 and maspin expression in PHMs. Logistic regression identified p57^Kip2 as a strong independent predictor of molar subtype, whereas p53 and maspin did not demonstrate independent predictive value. These findings confirm the diagnostic utility of p57^Kip2 and suggest that p53 may provide complementary information in selected cases. In addition, the observed expression patterns of p57^Kip2, p53, and maspin offer insights into the molecular and regulatory differences underlying complete and partial hydatidiform moles.