Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary. Immunohistochemical evidence of low proliferative activity and virtual absence of mutation of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene.

• Abstract: BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Because the use of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of granulosa cell tumor (GCT) has not been fully explored, routinely processed (formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded) tissue from 11 GCT, adult type, was investigated immunohistochemically (ABC method) with a broad spectrum of antibodies against various markers, including p53 and Ki-67. All of the tumors exhibited typical morphology, were limited to the ovary (stage I), and 7 cases followed a benign clinical course. RESULTS: All the tumors exhibited strong expression of vimentin, but most other antigens (including smooth muscle actin) were expressed infrequently by a minority of tumor cells or not at all. Tumor cells in 9 GCT expressed inhibin A. All the tumors exhibited very low proliferative activity, fewer than 10% of the tumor cell nuclei being stained by the antibody MIB-1 (Ki-67 antigen). The antibody D07 revealed marked overexpression of p53 protein in only one tumor. Clinical outcome was not found to be related to immunophenotypic differences. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of GCT should be based primarily on the typical morphology revealed by conventional stains, but additional immunohistochemical staining with a small panel of selected antibodies (for example, against keratin, vimentin, and inhibin A) may be helpful in a few cases. The very low proliferative activity and the lack of overexpression of p53 protein are consistent with the benign clinical behavior of the majority of GCT.
• Authors: H P Horny, L Marx, S Kröber, J Lüttges, E Kaiserling, J Dietl (Affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Tübingen, Germany.)
• Journal: Gynecologic and obstetric investigation (Gynecol Obstet Invest) Vol. 47 Issue 2 Pg. 133-8 ( 1999) ISSN: 0378-7346 [Print] SWITZERLAND
• PMID: 9949285 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Actins
• Ki-67 Antigen
• Receptors, Progesterone
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
• Vimentin
• Inhibins

Topics

• Actins (analysis)
• Aged
• Cell Division
• Cell Nucleus (chemistry)
• Female
• Genes, p53 (genetics)
• Granulosa Cell Tumor (genetics, pathology)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Inhibins (analysis)
• Ki-67 Antigen (analysis)
• Macrophages (pathology)
• Middle Aged
• Muscle, Smooth (chemistry)
• Mutation
• Ovarian Neoplasms (genetics, pathology)
• Receptors, Progesterone (analysis)
• T-Lymphocytes (pathology)
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 (analysis)
• Vimentin (analysis)