title: IMP3 distinguishes uterine serous carcinoma from endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma.
abstract: Differentiating uterine serous carcinoma (USC) from endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EAC) could be problematic, especially in high-grade EACs and tumors exhibiting architectural variations. To address this issue, we evaluated 103 endometrial carcinoma cases using 4 immunomarkers, beta-catenin, IMP3, PTEN, and p53. Cases included 31 USCs, 57 EACs, and 15 mixed EAC-USCs. Of 31 USCs and 57 EACs, 8 and 9, respectively, were considered diagnostically difficult and challenging. beta-catenin was more frequently expressed in EAC (P = .001); p53, PTEN, and IMP3 were more frequently found in USC (P < .001 for each). IMP3 was the best independent predictive marker for USCs. The best marker combination for predicting USCs was PTEN+/IMP3+ (exact odds ratio, 163.87; 95% confidence interval, 19.62 to infinity; P < .001). IMP3 was consistently negative in all 9 challenging EAC cases and consistently positive in all 8 challenging USC cases. None of the markers or their combinations demonstrated any value in making the diagnosis of serous component in mixed EAC-USC tumors. IMP3 immunoexpression and the IMP3+/PTEN+ pattern are the best independent and combination markers, respectively, to predict USCs. We strongly recommend using them in difficult and challenging cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
authors.forename: Paulette
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mhawech-Fauceglia
authors.forename: Francois R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Har
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: Nana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tchabo
authors.forename: Shashikant
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lele
authors.forename: Iyare
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Izevbaye
authors.forename: Kunle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Odunsi
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Cheney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000032:analysis*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C498780:IGF2BP3 protein, human; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051176:beta Catenin; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human