Apoptotic and proliferative activity in ovarian benign, borderline and malignant tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the apoptotic and proliferative activities in various ovarian epithelial tumors.


METHODS
Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of 86 ovarian epithelial tumors, including 52 adenocarcinomas, 23 borderline tumors and 11 cystadenoma, were retrieved. Apoptotic (AI) and proliferative (PI) index were estimated using the monoclonal antibodies: M30, Ki-67 and Ki-S1 in these tumors. Quantitative assessment of AI and PI was estimated by calculating the percentage of positive cells among no less than 1000 tumor cells.


RESULTS
Statistically significant difference in AI was found between benign and borderline tumors or carcinomas (P = 0.028, 0.001, respectively). Significant differences in PI, as assessed by both Ki-67 and topo IIalpha, were demonstrated between carcinomas and benign or borderline tumors (both P < 0.001). Benign tumors had both low PI and AI; borderline tumors had lower PI but higher AI, while adenocarcinomas had both high proliferative and high apoptotic rates. Among borderline tumors, serious tumors had significantly lower AI and higher PI than mucinous ones.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that apoptotic and proliferative activities play important roles in the pathogenesis and development of ovarian borderline and malignant tumors. The high apoptotic rate in borderline tumor may explain its relatively indolent behavior while the high proliferative rate in carcinomas tends to explain its aggressive behavior.
Liu
Aijun
A
Department of Pathology, the University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China. ajliu9@hotmail.com
Chen
Lezhen
L
Ngan
Hextan Y S
HY
Khoo
U S
US
Zhao
Yun
Y
Cheung
Annie N Y
AN
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D017209:Apoptosis; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D018291:Cystadenoma, Mucinous / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D018293:Cystadenoma, Serous / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000032:analysis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II