Immunohistochemical Analysis for p53 and TGF-beta Expression Pattern in Ovarian Epithelial Tumors

Park, Jin Wan; Youn, Moon Hee; Myong, Na Hye

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To verify the pattern of p53 and TGF-beta protein expression in benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors.
METHODS
An immunohistochemical technique was applied to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of 22 benign and 9 malignant epithelial ovarian tumors using p53 monoclonal antibody and TGF-beta polyclonal antibody. Expressions of p53 and TGF-beta protein in two histological types were compared, and correlated with clinico-pathologic findings of the respective cases.
RESULTS
p53 immunoreactivity of high or intermediate degree was detected in 2 out of 22 benign (9%) and 5 out of 9 malignant (55%) cases. On the other hand, intermediate to high TGF-beta expression was found in 17 out of 22 benign (77%), and 3 out of 9 malignant (33%) cases. The prevalence differences of p53 and TGF-beta expression between benign and malignant groups were statistically significant (p<0.05). In addition, the prevalence of immunoreactivities of p53 and TGF-beta in malignant tumor didn't show any association with age, tumor size, histologic types and stage.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that p53 expression and loss of TGF-beta expression may play an important role in the malignant transformation of ovarian epithelial cells. However further studies seem to be necessary to know the exact relationship between their roles.