Expression of E-cadherin in Benign, Borderline, and Malignant Ovarian Epithelial Tumors.
- Author:
Jin Wan PARK
1
;
Min Chul LEE
;
Choong Hak PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Dan-Kook University, Cheonan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
E-cadherin;
immnunohistochemistry;
ovarian tumors
- MeSH:
Cadherins*;
Carcinogenesis;
Ovarian Neoplasms;
Survival Rate
- From:Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
2002;45(4):623-627
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of E-cadherin in benign, borderline, and malignant ovarian tumors. METHODS: An immunohistochemical technique was applied to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of 20 benign cystic ovarian tumors, 14 borderline ovarian tumors and 13 ovarian carcinomas. Expressions of E-cadherin immunostaining in three histological types were compared, and the survival rate in malignant ovarian cancer according to E-cadherin expression was also assessed. RESULTS: E-cadherin was positively or heterogeneously expressed in both benign and borderline ovarian tumors. But it was negatively, heterogeneously, or positively expressed in malignant ovarian tumors. The difference of expression of E-cadherin between borderline and malignant ovarian tumors was statisticaIly significant (p<0.05). In ovarian carcinoma, there was difference between negative and positive group in survival (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that alterations in E-cadherin seem to occur at a later stage of the ovarian carcinogenesis, and may have some prognostic value in malignant ovarian tumor.
