Β‐Catenin and E‐cadherin expression in stage I adult‐type granulosa cell tumour of the ovary: correlation with tumour morphology and clinical outcome. Issue 2 (7th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stewart, Colin J R; Doherty, Dorota; Guppy, Rowan; Louwen, Katherine; Leung, Yee C
• Is Part Of: Histopathology. Volume 62:Issue 2(2013)
• Page Start: 257
• Page End: 266
• Publication Date: 2012-09-07
• Subjects: Histology, Pathological -- Periodicals; 611.018
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2012.04334.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-0167

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <bold>Aims: </bold> To study E‐cadherin and β‐catenin expression in stage I adult‐type granulosa cell tumours (AGCTs) and correlate the findings with tumour morphology and clinical outcome.</p> <p> <bold>Methods and results: </bold> The study group comprised 62 FIGO stage I AGCTs, including 48 stage IA and 14 stage IC cases. Fifty patients (80.6%) had negative clinical follow‐up over periods from 3.0 to 19.2 years (median 6.4 years), and 12 patients (19.4%) developed metastases at intervals of 3.6–16.2 years (median 8.6 years). β‐Catenin and E‐cadherin were expressed in 62 (100%) and 53 (85%) primary tumours, respectively, and staining was more consistent and intense in areas showing sex cord‐like morphology. In contrast, diffuse tumour areas often showed weak or moderate staining (β‐catenin) or were negative (E‐cadherin), and there was reduced expression of both proteins in luteinized cells. Reduced β‐catenin expression in primary tumours correlated with increased risk of recurrence (<italic>P</italic> = 0.002) and a shorter time interval to recurrence, whereas there was no correlation between E‐cadherin staining and the risk of metastases.</p> <p> <bold>Conclusions: </bold> Localized variations in adhesion protein expression may partly explain the diverse morphological patterns exhibited by AGCT, and reduced β‐catenin staining in primary tumours may have value as an adverse prognostic factor.</p> </abstract>