Immunohistochemical Expression of CD44V6, P53 and BCL-2 in Epithelial Ovarian Tumors

Ovarian epithelial cancer is a leading cause of death among gynaecological malignancies due mainly to advanced stage at presentation. Aim of the work: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and prognostic significance of CD44v6, Bcl-2 and P53 in ovarian tumors of low malignant potential (LMP) and primary epithelial ovarian carcinomas Experimental Design: We analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of CD44v6, Bcl-2 and P53 in 100 patients with primary ovarian carcinoma (64) serous 26 mucinous and 10 undifferentiated carcinoma) and 50 patients with ovarian tumors of (LMP). Results: CD44v6 was expressed in 25 cases of ovarian tumors of LMP (50%) and in 9 cases of ovarian carcinomas (9%). CD44v6 expression was correlated with early clinical FIGO stage (p=0.003) and the grade of the tumor. (p <0.05). P53 expression was detected in 21 cases of ovarian tumors of LMP (42%) and in 52 cases of ovarian carcinomas (52%) and was associated with high grade and advanced clinical FIGO stage (p <0.004). Bcl-2 was expressed in 43 cases of ovarian tumors of LMP (86%) and in 66 cases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma (66%) with positive correlation between Bcl-2 expression and early clinical stage and low grading of the tumors (p <0.001). Conclusion: CD44v6 and Bcl-2 expressions were correlated with LMP and, earlystage tumor with good prognosis, whereas P53 expression was associated with less differentiated, advanced-stage tumor and unfavorable prognosis [Afaf T Elnashar and Abdou S Abdel Hafez. Immunohistochemical Expression of CD44V6, P53 and BCL-2 in Epithelial Ovarian Tumors. J Am Sci 2012; 8(8):258-264]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.jofamericanscience.org. 38