Dhanya Valliapoyil1, Jisha Kalathil Thodiyil2, Lovely Jose3
BACKGROUND
Ovarian tumours are the common cause of morbidity and mortality in women
worldwide. Primary epithelial ovarian tumours comprise the majority. Cluster
differentiation 44 (CD-44) is a trans-membrane glycoprotein which plays a role in
cell- cell interaction, adhesion and migration, leading to the progression and
metastasis of tumour. E-cadherin is another cell adhesion molecule which plays an
important role in neoplastic progression. So, it is necessary to find out the
relationship of CD-44 and E-cadherin expression with histological types and
tumour differentiation, which might predict the prognosis. The present study was
undertaken to assess the pattern of expression of CD-44 and E-cadherin in primary
epithelial tumours of ovary and to determine the relationship between their
expression with age, histological type and tumour differentiation.
METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Pathology,
Government Medical College, Thrissur; a tertiary care institution. Histological types
and tumour differentiation for each case was determined from haematoxylin and
eosin sections. Immunohistochemical stain for CD-44 and E-cadherin was done.
Pattern of expression was studied and a semi quantitative score was calculated.
Expression of both markers was then compared with the age, histological type and
tumour differentiation.
RESULTS
Out of 57 cases studied, majority of the patients had serous (21 cases) or
mucinous tumours (20 cases). The mean age group was 54.5 years. CD-44
expression was significantly correlated with tumour differentiation but there was
no correlation found with age and histological type. In E-cadherin expression,
there was no correlation with age, histological type and tumour differentiation.
CONCLUSIONS
For primary epithelial tumours, expression of CD-44 could be an indicator for
tumour progression, invasiveness or distant metastasis. Poorly differentiated
tumours with increased expression may be helpful in predicting disease
progression. Target therapy can be employed in such cases. In case of E-cadherin
which is said to be a prognostic marker, more studies help in bridging the gap
between prognosis and outcome.
