title: P53, bcl-2, ki-67 li (labeling index) status in benign, proliferative, and malignant ovarian surface epithelial neoplasms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Approximately 50% of human malignancies present with mutations in p53, which is the most common tumor suppressor gene involved with human malignancies. Bcl-2 is a protooncogene, and expression of its protein product is associated with a better prognosis in several malignancies. Ki-67 is a marker of cellular proliferation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether simultaneous detection of p53, bcl-2 and Ki-67 using immunohistochemical staining can be used as a diagnostic factor in the assessment of human ovarian epithelial tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 75 epithelial ovarian tumors, 15 serous cystadenomas, 15 mucinous cystadenomas, 5 borderline serous cystadenomas, 5 borderline mucinous cystadenomas, 15 serous cystadenocarcinomas, 15 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas and 5 endometrioid carcinomas. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using monoclonal antibodies against p53, bcl-2, and Ki-67(MIB1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-p53 reactivity was observed in 14 tumors, all of which were malignant tumors, and no reactivity was observed in borderline or benign tumors. Overexpression of bcl-2 was observed in 12 benign neoplasms (40%), 5 of which were borderline (50%), but was not observed in any of the malignant tumors. There was a statistically significantly higher level of Ki-67 LI positivity in the malignant tumors than in the benign and borderline tumors (p<0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data show significant differences in the expression of these markers in ovarian tumors and suggest a possible role for these tumor-associated genes as supplemental tools in diagnostic pathology. Furthermore, our findings support the redesignation of low malignant potential tumors (current nomenclature) to benign ovarian carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nesrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gursan
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sare
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sipal
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calik
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gundogdu
keywords: Ki-67; Ovarian cancer; bcl-2; p53