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.
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.
Han
Chih-Ping
CP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chung-Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. hanhaly@gmail.com
Kok
Lai-Fong
LF
Lee
Ming-Yung
MY
Wu
Tina S
TS
Ruan
Alexandra
A
Cheng
Ya-Wen
YW
Wang
Po-Hui
PH
Koo
Chiew-Loon
CL
Tyan
Yeu-Sheng
YS
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*
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