Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) Protein Expression in Primary and Metastatic Serous Ovarian Carcinoma

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate protein expression of adenomatous polypois coli (APC) in primary and metastatic serous ovarian carcinoma. The expression of 3-catenin and E-cadherin was additionally analyzed. One hundred and thirteen priary (n=56) and metastatic (n=57) lesions were immunohistochemically stained for APC, E-cadherin, and f-catenin. Staining extent was scored. Possible differences in immunoreactivity in primary and metastatic sites and the association between the proteins analyzed were evaluated statistically. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for APC was found in 67/113 (59%) tumors, most often in the majority (>50%) of cells. E-cadherin was detected in 102/113 (90%) carcinomas, while P-catenin was exressed in 109/113 (97%) specimens. Nuclear expression of f-catenin was seen in 3/113 (3%) specimens, all negative for APC. APC and f-catenin were often coexressed, but this finding failed to reach statistical significance (p=0. 1 1). A significant association was seen between E-cadherin and f-catenin expression (p=0.001). APC expression was comparable in primary and metastatic tumors (p>0.05). In concluion, APC expression is absent in a considerable number of both primary and metastatic ovarian carcinomas, but this finding is only rarely coupled to nuclear acumulation of f-catenin. These findings support the role for f-catenin signaling via the Wingless/Wnt pathway in ovarian carcinoma. The mechanism behind the downegulated expression of APC in serous ovarian carcinoma and its significance has yet to be elucidated.

Keywords

adenomatous polyposis coli protein E-cadherin β-catenin serous ovarian carcinoma immunohistochemistry

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