Expression of E-Cadherin/β-Catenin, PTEN-PI3K-/Akt and P53 in Low Grade and High Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma

Abstract

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> To compare the expression of E-Cadherin, β-Catenin, PTEN, PI3K110α, p-AktSer⁴⁷³ and P53 protein between low grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSC) and high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC). <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> The serous ovarian carcinomas were graded and attributed into LGSC or HGSC. The expression of E-Cadherin, β-Catenin, PTEN, PI3K110α, p-AktSer⁴⁷³ and P53 protein were detected by immunohistochemical staining and were quantified. Differential expressions of these proteins in LGSC and HGSC were compared. Correlation analysis between E-Cadherin and β-Catenin, PTEN and PI3Kp110α, PTEN and p-AktSer⁴⁷³ were performed. <h3>Results</h3> A total of sixty SOC patients were eligible for this study, including 22 LGSCs and 38 HGSCs were included. Compared to LGSC, HGSC had older ages of onset (<i>P</i> <0.05), more advanced disease at diagnosis (<i>P</i> <0.01). The expression of β-catenin was higher in HGSC than in LGSC (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Contrarily, E-cadherin was higher expressed in LGSC than in HGSC (<i>P</i> < 0.05). The expressions of PI3K-p110α, p-AktSer⁴⁷³ were higher in HGSC than those in LGSC (both <i>P</i> <0.01). On the contrary, PTEN was higher expressed in LGSC than in HGSC (<i>P</i> <0.01). In addition, P53 was significantly higher expressed in HGSC than in LGSC (<i>P</i> <0.01). There was a negative correlation between E-cadherin and β-catenin in LGSC, as well as a negative correlation between PTEN and PI3Kp110α, and a negative correlation between PTEN and p-AktSer⁴⁷³. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The loss of E-cadherin protein expression and the over activation of β-catenin protein, the loss of PTEN protein expression and the over-activation of PI3K-p110α, phospho-AKT ^Ser473, and P53 protein activation might involve in the development of HGSC.