Immunohistochemical evaluation of a new epithelial antigen, Ber-EP4, in ovarian cancer: preliminary results.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the immunohistochemical expression of Ber-EP4, a new epithelial antigen in ovarian cancer.


METHODS
We studied 25 cases of ovarian cancer in which Ber-EP4, CEA and CA 125 were investigated by an immunohistochemical method. We evaluated the correlations between immunohistochemical positivity and grading, histotype and stage of disease.


RESULTS
CEA was positive in 5 out of 25 cases (20%), CA-125 in 17 out of 25 cases (68%) and Ber-EP4 in 14 out of 25 cases (56%). Ber-EP4 was mainly present in mucinous tumors in comparison to serous tumors (78.6% vs. 50%). Ber-EP4, as well as CA-125, were directly proportional to tumor differentation (70% of positivity in G1 vs 37.5% in G3 for the former and 80% in G1 vs 50% in G3 for the latter, respectively), whereas CEA showed no relevant difference regarding the grading. There were no differences among the three antigens studied with regard to clinical stage.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study Ber-EP4 was positive in 14 out of 22 cases (63.6%) of the primary epithelial ovarian cancers studied. The presence of this antigen seems to be related to histotype and grading but not to clinical stage.
Cherchi
P L
PL
Department of Pharmacology, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Sassari, Italy.
Marras
V
V
Capobianco
G
G
Ambrosini
G
G
Piga
M
M
Fadda
G M
GM
Dessole
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; C115012:human epithelial antigen-125; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm