Expression of pro-apoptotic (p53, p21, bax, bak and fas) and anti-apoptotic (bcl-2 and bcl-x) proteins in serous versus mucinous borderline ovarian tumours.
BACKGROUND
We examined the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in serous versus mucinous borderline ovarian tumours, in comparison with benign and malignant ovarian tumours.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical expression of pro-apoptotic (p53, p21, bax, bak, fas) and anti-apoptotic proteins (bcl-2, bcl-x) was determined in 34 borderline (19 mucinous, 15 serous), 20 benign (10 mucinous, 10 serous) and 28 malignant ovarian tumours (9 mucinous, 19 serous).


RESULTS
A difference in semi-quantitative p53 expression was found between benign and borderline tumours (P = 0.01), but not between borderline and malignant tumours. Increased p21 expression was found in borderline versus benign tumours (P = 0.004). Bcl-2 expression was lower in borderline than in benign (P = 0.01) and malignant tumours (P = 0.02). No difference in bax, bak, fas or bcl-x expression was observed among the three tumour types. Higher percentage of p21 positive cells was found in serous than in mucinous borderline tumours (P < 0.001). Bcl-2 expression was higher in serous than in mucinous forms of benign (P < 0.001), borderline (P < 0.001), and malignant tumours (P < 0.003). No difference in p53, bax, bak, fas or bcl-x expression was observed between serous and mucinous borderline ovarian tumours.


CONCLUSIONS
Although p53 overexpression was a common feature of both mucinous and serous borderline tumours, p21 and bcl-2 overexpression appeared specific to serous tumours.
Fauvet
Raffaèle
R
Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Hôpital Tenon, AP-HP, CancerEst, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris VI, Paris, France.
Dufournet
Charlotte
C
Poncelet
Christophe
C
Uzan
Catherine
C
Hugol
Danièle
D
Daraï
Emile
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis
C474007:Bax protein (53-86); D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor