Expression of mullerian inhibiting substance and its receptor in ovarian neoplsia

Seo, Kyoung A; Ryu, Ki Sung; Lee, Chung Won; Choi, Mi Na; Cha, Jung Ho; Kim, Jang Heub; Han, Ku Taek

Abstract

Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) is a glycoprotein hormone produced by fetal Sertoli cells that causes regression of the Mullerian ducts in males during sexual differentiation. Cell lines derived from human ovarian epithelium and rodent Leydig cell tumors, which respond to MIS in growth inhibition assays and express the MIS type II receptors (MISR II). But the pathophysiological role of MIS in human ovarian neoplasia development has not yet been fully established. In order to understand its role in pathogenesis of ovarian neoplasia, the expression and localization of the MIS and MISR II were studied in 5 normal ovaries, 11 benign tumors, 9 borderline ovarian malignancies, 40 ovarian malignancies in paraffin embedded tissue and tissue microarrays by using immunohistochemical stain. The results were as follows; 1. The first staining for MIS and MISR II were detected in granulosa cells in primary follicles of normal ovary. Among the growing follicles, larger developing follicles stained more intensely than smaller follicles. 2. In benign ovarian tumors, 8 (72.73%) in MIS and 5 (45.45%) in MISR II out of 11 cases were stained. The intensity scores of staining were 1.18 in MIS and 0.64 in MISR II. 3. In borderline malignancies, 6 (66.67%) in MIS and 7 (77.78%) in MISR II out of 9 cases were stained. The intensity scores of staining were 0.89 in MIS and 1.22 in MISR II. 4. In ovarian malignancies, the expression of MIS and MISR II were 50% (9/18) and 50% (9/18) in epithelial, 92.30% (12/13) and 76.72% (10/13) in germ cell, and 88.9% (8/9) and 100% (9/9) in sex-cord stromal tumors. The intensity scores of MIS and MISR II expression were 0.72 and 0.72 in epithelial, 1.45 and 1.62 in germ cell, and 1.78 and 1.67 in sex-cord stromal tumors. 5. There was significant high expression of MIS and MISR II in non-epithelial (90.91%, 86.36%) than epithelial ovarian cancers (50%, 50%). The scores of expression intensity was also higher in non-elithelial cancers (MIS: 1.67 +/- 0.16 vs 0.72 +/- 0.20, p=0.003, MISR II: 1.64 +/- 0.20 vs 0.72 +/- 0.21, p=0.022). In conlusion, the expression of MIS and MISR II were not different according to the differentiation, but tissue type specific. The frequency of MIS and MISR II expression was higher in non-epithelial cancers, especially in sex-cord stromal tumors. The results of this experiment could be utilized as scientific basis of researches, furthermore clinical applications in diagnosis and treatment of non-epithelial ovarian malignancies.