Value of mesothelial and epithelial antibodies in distinguishing diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma in females from serous papillary carcinoma of the ovary and peritoneum.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of mesothelial markers (calretinin, thrombomodulin, cytokeratin 5/6, and CD44H) and carcinoma markers (polyclonal and monoclonal carcinoembryonic antigen, Leu-M1, CA-125 and Ber-EP4) in distinguishing diffuse peritoneal malignant mesothelioma from primary serous papillary adenocarcinoma of the ovary and peritoneum.


RESULTS
Paraffin-embedded formalin-fixed blocks from 32 diffuse peritoneal mesotheliomas of epithelial subtype (all females), 20 serous papillary ovarian carcinomas and three primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinomas were studied. Calretinin and Ber-EP4 appeared to be the best positive mesothelial and carcinoma marker, respectively. Nuclear calretinin expression was identified in 28 of 32 malignant mesotheliomas with no nuclear immunoreactivity in the cohorts of serous papillary ovarian and peritoneal carcinomas, thus yielding 88% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Ber-EP4 showed 95% sensitivity and 91% specificity for serous papillary ovarian carcinoma. Thrombomodulin, cytokeratin 5/6 and CD44H immunoreactivities were seen in 18 (56%), 17 (53%) and 15 (47%) of peritoneal mesotheliomas, respectively, and in six (30%), five (25%) and five (25%) of the ovarian tumours, respectively. None of the three primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinomas expressed calretinin, thrombomodulin, cytokeratin 5/6 or CD44H. Polyclonal and monoclonal CEA, and Leu-M1 were expressed by two (10%), one (5%) and seven (35%) serous papillary ovarian carcinomas, respectively. None of the serous papillary peritoneal carcinomas expressed polyclonal CEA, monoclonal CEA or Leu-M1. CA-125 was positive in 19 (95%) and two (67%) ovarian and peritoneal carcinomas, respectively, and in eight (25%) peritoneal mesotheliomas.


CONCLUSIONS
Calretinin and Ber-EP4 are useful discriminant markers in distinguishing peritoneal mesothelioma in women from serous papillary ovarian and peritoneal carcinoma. The other mesothelial markers (thrombomodulin, cytokeratin 5/6, and CD44H) and carcinoma markers (polyclonal and monoclonal CEA, and Leu-M1) yielded a too low sensitivity for practical use.
Attanoos
R L
RL
Department of Histopathology, Llandough Hospital, Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust, Penarth, Vale of Glamoran, UK.
Webb
R
R
Dojcinov
S D
SD
Gibbs
A R
AR
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D064032:Calbindin 2; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D018283:Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053555:Keratin-5; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000032:analysis; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000032:analysis
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; C576764:CALB2 protein, human; D064032:Calbindin 2; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; C503940:KRT5 protein, human; D053555:Keratin-5; C407642:Leu-M1 antigen; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D018180:Thrombomodulin; C115012:human epithelial antigen-125; D007633:Keratins