IMP3 Expression in Ovarian Serous Tumours: Correlation with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Related Markers (E-Cadherin and Vimentin) and Clinicopathological Factors
Published: October 1, 2020 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2020/45631.14158
Samah Said Elbasateeny, Walid Mohamed Elnagar, Mahmoud Abdou Yassin, Heba Mohammed Rashad
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EL Sharkia, Egypt.
2. Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EL Sharkia, Egypt.
3. Lecturer, Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EL Sharkia, Egypt.
4. Lecturer, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Banha University, Banha, Egypt.
Correspondence
Samah Said Elbasateeny,
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine,
Zagazig University, Zagazig, EL Sharkia, Egypt.
E-mail: samah_elbasateeny@yahoo.com
Introduction: Ovarian epithelial cancer is an aggressive malignancy of which Ovarian Serous Carcinoma (OSC) represents a common type. The insulin-like growth factor mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) is one of mRNA-binding protein family that is overexpressed in a variety of human cancers, including ovarian carcinomas. Being associated with adverse prognostic outcome in these cancers, which makes this protein a reliable biomarker to distinguish some cancers from their benign mimetic lesions.
Aim: To analyse IMP3 expression in serous ovarian tumours and correlates the expression in malignant tumours with EpithelioMesenchymal Transition (EMT) related markers (Epithelial(E)- cadherin and vimentin) and clinicopathological factors to assess the clinical application of IMP3 in the diagnosis, prognosis and possible application in targeted therapy of such tumours.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional research that was done at the Departments of Pathology, Obstetric and Surgery, Zagazig and Banha Universities Hospitals, Egypt. Fifty-nine formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens (including 43 cases OSC, 6 cases border line serous tumour and 10 cases benign serous cystadenoma) were collected from January 2014 to December 2018. Each case was stained immunohistochemically with IMP3, E-cadherin and Vimentin. Markers expressions were statistically analysed using SPSS software (version 19.0; SPSS, Chicago, IL). The p-values =0.05 was regarded statistically significant.
Results: IMP3 was detected in 76.7% (33/43) of the studied OSC. IMP3 was in a significant association with advanced FIGO (International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics) stage and with lymph node metastases (p=0.02 and 0.019, respectively). E-cadherin was predominantly lost in 53.5% (23/43) of the studied OSCs and was significantly associated with advanced FIGO stage (p=0.004). Vimentin was detected in 79.1% (34/43) of the studied OSCs and was in association with high grades and advanced stage (p=0.018 and 0.007, respectively). An inverse significant correlation was detected between IMP3 and E-cadherin expressions (Spearman correlation (r)=-0.480, p-value=0.001), while positive significant correlation was detected between IMP3 and Vimentin expressions (Spearman correlation (r)=0.393, p-value=0.009).
Conclusion: IMP3 is an oncogene unregulated in OSC. It is a prognostic marker associated with tumour aggressiveness. Moreover, IMP3 could promote tumour invasion and metastasis via EMT in OSCs.
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