TY - JOUR
T1 - Endometriosis-associated ovarian carcinoma
T2 - Differential expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and estrogen/progesterone receptors
AU - Del Carmen, Marcela G.
AU - Sehdev, Anne E.Smith
AU - Fader, Amanda Nickles
AU - Zahurak, Marianna L.
AU - Richardson, Michael
AU - Fruehauf, John P.
AU - Montz, F. J.
AU - Bristow, Robert E.
PY - 2003/10/15
Y1 - 2003/10/15
N2 - BACKGROUND. Multiple epidemiologic and histologic studies have suggested that ovarian endometriosis can give rise to malignant ovarian tumors, primarily those of epithelial origin. The progression of endometriosis to endometriosis-associated ovarian carcinoma (EAOC) has not been investigated thoroughly and is poorly understood at best. Using immunohistochemical methods, we compared the differential expression patterns of various cytokines and growth factors in atypical endometriosis (AE) and EAOC. METHODS. Using the Johns Hopkins Pathology Data Bank, tissue blocks from patients diagnosed with EAOC or AE were identified. Tissue blocks were stained for 4 markers: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Ki-67, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR). RESULTS. Seventeen cases of EAOC and 8 cases of AE were identified. Staining for VEGF was documented in 16 of 17 (94%) EAOC tissue blocks and in only 1 of 8 (12.5%) AE tissue blocks (P < 0.0001). Only 4 of the 17 (23%) EAOC tissue blocks exhibited positive staining for ER, compared with 8 of 8 (100%) AE tissue blocks (P = 0.0005). Positive staining for PR was noted in only 6 of 17 (35%) EAOC samples but was present in 8 of 8 (100%) AE samples (P = 0.003). Seventy percent of EAOC samples exhibited positive staining for Ki-67, compared with 37.5% of AE samples (P = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS. EAOC appears to be associated with overexpression of VEGF and reduced expression of both ER and PR. Variations in VEGF expression may be associated with the malignant transformation of endometriosis and may present both diagnostic and therapeutic options for the treatment of ovarian malignancies.
AB - BACKGROUND. Multiple epidemiologic and histologic studies have suggested that ovarian endometriosis can give rise to malignant ovarian tumors, primarily those of epithelial origin. The progression of endometriosis to endometriosis-associated ovarian carcinoma (EAOC) has not been investigated thoroughly and is poorly understood at best. Using immunohistochemical methods, we compared the differential expression patterns of various cytokines and growth factors in atypical endometriosis (AE) and EAOC. METHODS. Using the Johns Hopkins Pathology Data Bank, tissue blocks from patients diagnosed with EAOC or AE were identified. Tissue blocks were stained for 4 markers: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Ki-67, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR). RESULTS. Seventeen cases of EAOC and 8 cases of AE were identified. Staining for VEGF was documented in 16 of 17 (94%) EAOC tissue blocks and in only 1 of 8 (12.5%) AE tissue blocks (P < 0.0001). Only 4 of the 17 (23%) EAOC tissue blocks exhibited positive staining for ER, compared with 8 of 8 (100%) AE tissue blocks (P = 0.0005). Positive staining for PR was noted in only 6 of 17 (35%) EAOC samples but was present in 8 of 8 (100%) AE samples (P = 0.003). Seventy percent of EAOC samples exhibited positive staining for Ki-67, compared with 37.5% of AE samples (P = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS. EAOC appears to be associated with overexpression of VEGF and reduced expression of both ER and PR. Variations in VEGF expression may be associated with the malignant transformation of endometriosis and may present both diagnostic and therapeutic options for the treatment of ovarian malignancies.
KW - Endometriosis
KW - Estrogen receptor
KW - Ovarian carcinoma
KW - Progesterone receptor
KW - Vascular endothelial growth factor
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U2 - 10.1002/cncr.11714
DO - 10.1002/cncr.11714
M3 - Article
C2 - 14534882
AN - SCOPUS:0141889276
SN - 0008-543X
VL - 98
SP - 1658
EP - 1663
JO - Cancer
JF - Cancer
IS - 8
ER -