Loss of oestrogen receptor beta, high PCNA and p53 expression and aneuploidy as markers of worse prognosis in ovarian granulosa cell tumours.
OBJECTIVE
Ovarian granulosa cell tumour (OGCT) is a sex-cord stromal tumour with a general trend toward late relapse and/or metastasis. However, mortality rate corrected for long-term follow-up shows that about 50% of patients die within 20 years of diagnosis. Classical clinicopathological parameters are unable to predict the biological behaviour of OGCT. The involvement of a recently characterized subtype of oestrogen receptor, ERbeta, in ovarian carcinogenesis has been hypothesized.


RESULTS
We examined by immunohistochemistry the expression of ERbeta, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p53 in a selected series of 30 OGCT, to evaluate their role in the prognostic evaluation of this tumour. Immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. Results were compared with the DNA-ploidy of the tumours (evaluated by image analysis) and with the follow-up data of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Loss of ERbeta expression, high PCNA expression and aneuploidy, characterized a subgroup of OGCT with a worse outcome. The identification of a high-risk subclass of OGCT may be of primary importance in addressing appropriate therapeutic strategies, offering the chance to prevent relapses and metastases by using adjunctive, specifically targetted, more aggressive therapies.
Staibano
S
S
Department of Biomorphological and Functional Sciences, University 'Federico II' of Naples, Naples, Italy. amando.tedeschi@virgilio.it
Franco
R
R
Mezza
E
E
Chieffi
P
P
Sinisi
A
A
Pasquali
D
D
Errico
M E
ME
Nappi
C
C
Tremolaterra
F
F
Somma
P
P
Mansueto
G
G
De Rosa
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000782:Aneuploidy; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005260:Female; D006106:Granulosa Cell Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53