title: BRCA1 expression, proliferative and apoptotic activities in ovarian epithelial inclusions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to examine proliferative and apoptotic activity in relation with BRCA1 expression in ovarian epithelial inclusions (OEIs), the putative precursor lesions of ovarian epithelial cancer (OEC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Benign ovaries from 95 patients were examined. Dual immunohistochemical staining for both BRCA1 and MIB-1 were performed to examine the relationship between BRCA1 and MIB-1 in OEI cells. Apoptotic activity was assessed on the parallel tissue sections by using TUNEL assay. Patients' age, menstrual phase and menopausal status were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OEIs were present in the ovaries of 53% of the patients. OEIs were less frequently found in premenopausal (45%) than postmenopausal women (58%). BRCA1 and MIB-1 were found in 27 and 47% of the OEI-containing ovaries, respectively. All BRCA1 positive OEI cells are MIB-1 positive with dual staining method, although overall the percentage of positive cells was small. No significant difference was found for BRCA1 and MIB-1 expression in OEIs between menopausal status and menstrual phases. Apoptosis containing OEIs were seen in 70% of the ovaries. Compared to OEIs in proliferative menstrual phase and premenopausal status, significantly more apoptosis was found in OEIs from secretory phase and postmenopausal women. A small fraction of the epithelial cells within OEIs are proliferating or dying.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low estrogen and/or high progesterone levels may promote OEI cell turnover via induction of apoptosis. Imbalance between cell proliferation and death within OEIs under influence of hormones may play a role in the ovarian epithelial tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Henan Province People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yiying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Henan Province People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Henan Province People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Qianfoshan Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China.|Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, NB6.408, Dallas, 75390-9072, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Shuhui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Ji'nan, China.|Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, NB6.408, Dallas, 75390-9072, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Miaoqing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, NB6.408, Dallas, 75390-9072, TX, USA. Wenxin.Zheng@UTSouthwestern.edu.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, NB6.408, Dallas, 75390-9072, TX, USA. Wenxin.Zheng@UTSouthwestern.edu.|Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. Wenxin.Zheng@UTSouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Wenxin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D015415:Biomarkers; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen
keywords: BRCA1; Ovarian cancer precursors; Ovarian epithelial inclusions; Ovarian epithelial proliferation and apoptosis