Volume-corrected mitotic index and p53 immunoreactivity in borderline and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if there are differences in p53 immunoreactivity and proliferation rate using the volume-corrected mitotic (M/V) index between borderline and malignant ovarian tumors.


METHODS
Thirteen borderline (7 serous and 6 mucinous) and 17 malignant (14 serous and 3 mucinous) ovarian neoplasms were included in this study. M/V index was calculated according to the formula of Haapasalo et al. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were immunostained with a monoclonal antibody against p53 protein using an avidin-streptavidin method.


RESULTS
Carcinomas had a considerably higher M/V index (17.7 +/- 9.8) than borderline tumors (1.5 +/- 1.7, P < .001). The usual mitotic index was also higher in carcinomas than in borderline tumors (24.9 +/- 16.6 versus 1.6 +/- 1.9, P < .001). p53 Immunoreactivity was found in 5/17 carcinomas (29.4%), while all borderline tumors were negative.


CONCLUSIONS
Even though the number of our cases was too small to draw definitive conclusions, our results suggest that M/V index and p53 immunoreactivity may be of some help in the differentiation between borderline and malignant ovarian epithelial tumors.
Miliaras
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Department of Pathology, General Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece.
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D048429:Cell Size; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53