Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression in borderline ovarian tumors: an immunohistochemical study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in epithelial borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) by immunohistochemistry with correlation to clinicopathologic variables.


METHODS
Paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 62 borderline ovarian tumors (47 mucinous, 14 serous, and 1 clear cell) and 12 epthelial ovarian carcinomas were immunostained with antibodies to hTERT. The intensity and quantity of the immunostaining was determined and analyzed with clinicopathological characteristics.


RESULTS
hTERT expression was detected in 48.4% of BOT and all cases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. In immunoreactive BOT 50% of cases were scored as high expression. Serous BOT had the highest rate of hTERT expression. There was no significant statistical difference of hTERT immunoreactivity between histologic types of BOT. No hTERT immunoreactivity was observed in the benign parts of the same slides of each immunoreactive case. hTERT immunoreactivity was positively correlated with FIGO stage (p = 0.04), but not with other variables. The mean follow-up time of BOT cases was 81.63 months and no recurrence or death was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
hTERT expression was found in half of BOT and all of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. High hTERT expression was associated with FIGO stage.
Tantbirojn
Patou
P
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. two_devil@hotmail.com
Triratanachat
Surang
S
Trivijitsilp
Prasert
P
Niruthisard
Somchai
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019098:Telomerase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase