title: Five commonly used markers (p53, TTF1, CK7, CK20, and CK34betaE12) are of no use in distinguishing between primary endocervical and endometrial adenocarcinomas in a tissue microarray extension study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The choice of appropriate therapeutic plans for primary endocervical adenocarcinomas (ECA) and endometrial adenocarcinomas (EMA) depends on the tumor's site of origin. Some panels of antibodies help to distinguish primary ECA from EMA. However, unexpected expressions of those markers often exist, which causes this diagnostic dilemma to be still unresolved. In this study, we investigate five commonly used monoclonal antibodies (p53, TTF1, CK7, CK20, and CK34betaE12) to evaluate their potential use in distinguishing between these two gynecologic malignancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tissue microarray was constructed using paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tissues from 35 hysterectomy specimens, including 14 ECA and 21 EMA. Utilizing the avidin-biotin (ABC) technique, tissue array sections were immunostained with the five aforementioned commercially available antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemical (IHC) expressions of p53, TTF1, CK7, CK20, and CK34betaE12 were all nonsignificant (P>0.05) in frequency differences between the immunostaining results (positive vs. negative) in tumors from both the two primary adenocarcinomas (ECA vs. EMA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is still uncertain which markers or panels would be the most appropriate for making diagnoses; hence, exploration of other useful markers, which make a definitive distinction between ECA and EMA merits further studies. This study, however, uncovered that the five commonly used monoclonal antibodies (p53, TTF1, CK7, CK20, and CK34betaE12) are of no beneficial value in distinguishing between primary ECA and EMA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chung-Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. hanhaly@gmail.com
authors.forename: Chih-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Lai-Fong
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: Ming-Yung
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tina S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: Ya-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Po-Hui
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chiew-Loon
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Yeu-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Tyan
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053554:Keratin-20 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D053552:Keratin-7 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D053554:Keratin-20; D053552:Keratin-7; C504003:TTF1 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53