Evaluation of p۵۳, PTEN and β-catenin Immunoexpressions in Primary Ovarian Epithelial Tumors

Background: Ovarian cancer comprises a heterogeneous group of neoplasms. The prognosis cannot be predicted by histopathologic examination alone. The aim of this study is to evaluate p۵۳, PTEN, and β-catenin expressions in primary ovarian carcinomas in an attempt to find a possible relationship with morphologic parameters and clinical findings.Methods: The study included ۱۰۰ epithelial ovarian tumors (borderline and carcinomas) from affiliated hospitals of Shiraz university of medical sciences during ۲۰۰۷-۲۰۱۳. Immunohistochemical staining for p۵۳, PTEN, and β-catenin was performed on ۶۵ serous, ۱۸ mucinous, ۱۰ endometrioid, ۵ clear cell, and ۲ mixed tumors.Results: p۵۳ expression pattern in serous carcinoma significantly differed from endometrioid carcinomas. Strong positivity (۲+) in >۵۰% of the tumor cells favored serous carcinoma. PTEN expression significantly differed in mucinous and serous carcinomas as well as in endometrioid carcinoma and borderline endometrioid tumor. There was significantly decreased β-catenin expression in the carcinomas compared with borderline tumors. In all of the different subtypes of ovarian carcinomas, we observed a significant association with decreased β-catenin expression to tumor grade as well as in serous carcinomas with increased nuclear grade, mitosis, and tumor grade. There was no significant relation between expressions of p۵۳, PTEN, and β-catenin in epithelial ovarian tumors to FIGO staging, response to chemotherapy, serum CA- ۱۲۵ marker, and tumor recurrence.Conclusion: p۵۳ and PTEN are helpful in differentiation of some epithelial ovarian tumor subtypes. In serous carcinomas, diminished expression of β-catenin is associated with higher tumor and nuclear grade. This expression is significantly different in borderline and carcinomas.