p53, c-erbB-2 and p21(ras) expression in tumor effusion cells of patients with histopathologically different ovarian neoplasms

The overexpression of p53, c-erbB-2 and p21(ras) gene products was evaluated immunohistochemically in ovarian carcinomas, borderline, and benign neoplasms. All studies were performed on cytospin preparations of cyst and/or ascitic fluid cells and mutual relations between oncoproteins were analysed. p53 and c-erbB-2 immunostaining was observed in 50% and 48,5% of ovarian carcinomas and in 30% and 35% of ovarian borderline tumors respectively, however in the last group the intensity and percentage of stained cells were considerably lower In ovarian benign neoplasms there was no evidence of p53 and/or c-erbB-2 expression. The trend for serous carcinoma to have a higher p53 and c-erbB-2 expression than endometrioid and mucinous carcinomas was observed. p53 and c-erbB-2 oncoproteins were detected more frequently in the III/IV than in the I/II stages of the disease. The expression of p21(ras) was detected in 91% of malignant 65% of borderline and 50% of benign neoplasms. p21(ras) reactivity was independent of the histopathological structure of ovarian carcinomas and it was comparable in I/II and III/IV FIGO stages. Our results indicate that p21(ras) overexpression appears to be an early genetic alteration in ovarian tumorigenesis, followed by the appearance of p53 and c-erbB-2 oncoproteins. It is likely that enhanced p53 and c-erbB-2 expression may cooperate with ras gene activation to produce a particularly aggressive phenotype. Our study supports the concept that development of ovarian carcinoma is the end result of a complex multistep process involving the complementary action of different cancer causing genes.