Comparative immunohistochemical studies of bcl-2 and p53 proteins in benign and malignant ovarian endometriotic cysts.
BACKGROUND
A number of histologic and epidemiologic studies have suggested an association between endometriosis and ovarian carcinoma. Some reports have described a transition from endometriosis to atypical endometriosis to carcinoma. Using immunohistochemistry, the authors compared staining patterns in benign endometriotic cysts with ovarian tumors and the endometriotic cyst lining from which they arose, in an attempt to identify sequential or etiologic correlations.


METHODS
One hundred thirteen formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were studied (30 benign ovarian endometriotic cysts, 24 endometriotic cysts containing endometrioid carcinomas, 19 endometriotic cysts harboring clear cell carcinomas, and 40 ovarian papillary serous cystadenocarcinomas). All sections were immunostained with anti-bcl-2 and anti-p53 antibodies using the streptavidin-biotin method.


RESULTS
bcl-2 was reported to stain 23% of benign endometriotic cysts, 67% of endometrioid carcinomas, 73% of clear cell carcinomas, and 50% of papillary serous carcinomas. Approximately 42% of benign endometriotic lesions adjacent to the endometrioid carcinoma and 73% adjacent to clear cell carcinomas were found to stain for bcl-2 (p = 0.274 [not significant (NS)] and P = 0.008, respectively). p53 staining was negative in the benign endometriotic cyst group and was positive in 37-55% of the group with tumors. p53 staining was positive in 25% of the benign endometriotic lesions next to the endometrioid carcinoma and in 9% of the benign endometriotic lesions next to clear cell carcinoma (P = 0.014 and P = 0.239 [NS], respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the current study suggest that alterations in bcl-2 and p53 may be associated with the malignant transformation of endometriotic cysts.
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA. farr.nezhat@mssm.edu
Farr
F
Nezhat
Carmel
C
Cohen
Jamal
J
Rahaman
Herbert
H
Gretz
Patrick
P
Cole
Tamara
T
Kalir
D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018283:Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53