P53 is not related to Ki-67 immunostaining in the epithelial and mesenchymal components of female genital tract carcinosarcomas

Abstract

Carcinosarcomas (CSs) are composed of two separate histological components and are rare neoplasms of the female genital tract. Therefore, CS pathogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. In the present study, immunohistochemical techniques were used to determine the role of p53 and Ki-67 overexpression in female genital tract CSs. The study group was comprised of 36 patients with CSs originating from the uterus (n=31), cervix (n=3) and ovary (n=2), as well as 3 metastatic tissues. p53 was overexpressed in the epithelial component of 23 out of 36 (64%) tumors, and in the mesenchymal component of 20 out of 36 (56%) tumors. In both CS components, there was a significant correlation between p53 overexpression and patient age and ovarian metastases. Ki-67 overexpression was detected in the epithelial component in 15 out of 36 (42%) cases, and in the mesenchymal component in 13 out of 36 (36%) neoplasms. There was a significant correlation of p53 overexpression between the carcinomatous and sarcomatous components (R=0.884, P<0.001). A significant correlation was also found in Ki-67 immunoreactivity between the two CS components (R=0.676, P<0.001). However, p53 overexpression was not correlated with Ki-67 immunostaining in both tumor components. In conclusion, based on immunohistochemical results, p53 was overexpressed in more than half of the female genital tract CSs included in the present study, either at the epithelial or mesenchymal component. The correlation between p53 or Ki-67 overexpression in both tumor components supports the combination theory of histogenesis in the majority of these tumors.