Immunohistochemical detection of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and c-kit in serous ovarian carcinoma: a clinicopathologic study.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and c-kit in a cohort of serous ovarian carcinomas by immunohistochemistry with regard to outcome and clinicopathologic variables.


METHODS
Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue sections of 10 benign serous cystadenomas, 10 serous neoplasms of low malignant potential (LMP), and 41 serous ovarian carcinomas were immunostained with antibodies to hTERT and c-kit. Immunostaining was scored with regard to quantity and intensity of positively stained cells as negative or weak, moderate, and strong. Mitotic activity was determined as mitotic figures per 10 high power fields.


RESULTS
hTERT expression was negative in serous cystadenomas; 70% of LMP showed strong nuclear immunoreactivity. In serous carcinomas, nuclear and sometimes cytoplasmic immunoreactivity was observed; 14% of cases were scored as negative, 42% as moderate, and 44% as strong. hTERT immunoreactivity increased with grade (P < 0.0192) and mitotic activity (P = 0.0018), but not with FIGO stage (P = 0.2752), and was related with outcome (P = 0.0477). No c-kit immunoreactivity was observed in serous cystadenomas and LMP; 27% of serous carcinomas were negative, 46% showed moderate, and 27% strong immunostaining. c-kit immunoreactivity was positively correlated with grade (P = 0.0008) and FIGO stage (P = 0.0247), but not with mitotic activity (P = 0.1433) and outcome (P = 0.1145); however, c-kit expression was positively related with poor outcome in FIGO II and III stages (P = 0.0105).


CONCLUSIONS
hTERT and c-kit are frequently up-regulated in serous ovarian carcinomas; c-kit immunoexpression may serve as a marker of aggressive behavior in high stage tumors.
Brustmann
Hermann
H
Department of Pathology, Thermenklinikum, Sr. Maria Restitutagasse 12, A-2340 Moedling/Vienna, Austria. ddrbrustmann@hotmail.com
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D008938:Mitosis / Q000502:physiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015996:Survival Rate; D019098:Telomerase / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D019098:Telomerase