Expressions of MIB-1, p53 and CEA in Endocervical Glandular Lesions

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Endocervical glandular lesions include glandular atypia (GA), endocervical glandular dysplasia (EGD), adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), and invasive adenocarcinoma (IA). The diagnosis of malignant glandular lesions is occasionally difficult to distinguish from benign mimickers, and the morphologic features of EGD remain unsettled. METHODS: Immunohistochemical stains for MIB-1, p53 and CEA were performed on 81 cases of paraffin-embedded endocervical glandular lesions including 22 IA, 15 AIS, 15 EGD, 13 GA, 8 microglandular hyperplasia (MGH) and 8 tubal metaplasia (TM). RESULTS: The MIB-1 labelling index of IA was 59.68%, 69.53% for AIS, 26.60% for EGD, 16.03% for benign. p53 overexpression was noted in 4 (18%) cases of IA, 3 (20%) of AIS, but none of EGD and benign lesions. It was Interesting to note that one case of MGH showed p53 staining in low intensity. Diffuse strong cytoplasmic CEA positivity was present in all of IA and AIS, whereas seven (47%) of 15 EGD and 12 (41%) of 29 benign lesions showed focal cytoplasmic CEA positivity. There were significant differences in MIB-1 and CEA immunostainings among the adenocarcinoma, EGD, and benign glandular lesions. Adenocarcinoma was closely related to p53 overexpression, although occurring in a low percentage of the cases. CONCLUSION: MIB-1 immunostaining can be useful in differentiating among endocervical adenocarcinoma, endocervical glandular dysplasia and benign glandular lesions. p53 overexpression might be helpful in the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma.