Comparative immunohistochemical studies of endometriosis lesions and endometriotic cysts.
OBJECTIVE
To compare immunohistochemical staining patterns in noncystic and cystic endometriosis lesions.


METHODS
Experimental.


METHODS
Archived pathology material in an academic research environment.


METHODS
Endometriosis tissues from the pathology archives including slide tissue sections and blocks.


METHODS
None; this was a retrospective study.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining of the tissues was performed using anti-bcl-2, anti-p53, anti-matrix metalloproteinase IX, and anti-collagen VI antibodies. Staining was qualitatively assessed in terms of extent and intensity.


RESULTS
p53 showed no staining in both groups. Anti-bcl-2 stained 100% (30/30) of endometriosis lesions compared with only 23% (7/30) of endometriotic cysts (P<.0001), and anti-matrix metalloproteinase IX stained 85% (23/27) of endometriosis lesions and only 39% (14/36) of endometriotic cysts (P=.0003). Anti-collagen VI, however, stained only 6% (2/35) of endometriosis lesions and 75% (21/28) of endometriotic cysts (P<.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with endometriosis lesions, endometriotic cysts display different expression of proteins with relative overexpression of collagen VI and underexpression of bcl-2 and metalloproteinase IX. This report is the first comparative immunohistochemical study showing these differences.
Nezhat
Farr R
FR
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. farr.nezhat@mssm.edu
Kalir
Tamara
T
D024142:Collagen Type VI / Q000032:analysis; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D024142:Collagen Type VI; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9