Mahendra Singh1, Lubna Khan2, Ankita Kamthan3
BACKGROUND
Surface epithelial ovarian tumour (SEOT) develops from the outer surface of ovary.
It accounts for more than 90 % of all the ovarian tumours. Most of the SEOT are
benign. Few SEOT are of low malignant potential or high malignant potential. The
purpose of this study was to assess the rate of expression of proliferative marker
Ki-67 and staining pattern of p53 in various histological types of SEOT.
METHODS
It was a randomised type of study carried out in the Department of Pathology,
GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, for 2 years. It included 100 random patients with
surgically resected specimens of SEOT. Ki-67 immunohistochemistry (IHC) was
performed on all malignant cases and few random benign cases; and the
percentage of immunopositive cells in each case was expressed as Ki-67 labelling
index (Ki-67 LI). p53 expression was interpreted as positive when cells showed
diffuse and intense nuclear staining in malignant cases.
RESULTS
Out of 100 cases, 70 were benign and 30 were malignant. Cases comprised of
serous and mucinous histological subtypes. In all malignant cases, Ki-67
expression was found to be positive (Ki-67 LI > 1 %). Highest Ki-67 LI of 52 %
was associated with high grade serous cystadenocarcinoma. High grade serous
carcinoma (HGSC) had higher p53 positivity. 88.8 % of HGSC were p53 positive.
CONCLUSIONS
Ki-67 is a cost-effective proliferative marker; therefore, its assessment can be
included in routine histopathological report of SEOT for better understanding of
the biologic behaviour and aggressiveness of the tumour. p53 expression was
more common in HGSC and can help in discriminating between HGSC and lowgrade
serous carcinoma (LGSC).
