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. 2014 Dec 9;34(1):9–18. doi: 10.1097/PGP.0000000000000108

Incidence of Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma (STIC) by Algorithm Classification in Serous Ovarian Tumor Associated with PAX8 Expression in Tubal Epithelia: A Study of Single Institution in Japan

Satoru Munakata 1,2,, Toshiya Yamamoto 1,2
PMCID: PMC4272227  PMID: 25473747

Abstract

Serous ovarian carcinoma is now hypothesized to originate from fallopian tube epithelium (FTE). We investigated the FTE abnormalities in the patients with epithelial ovarian tumors. Our study included 55 cases of serous tumors (24 carcinomas, 8 borderline tumors, and 23 adenomas), 14 mucinous carcinomas, 22 endometrioid carcinomas, 5 clear cell carcinomas, and 2 malignant Brenner tumors. FTE was diagnosed by the diagnostic algorithm, which combines the data of morphology, and p53, Ki-67 immunostaining, as serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma, serous tubal intraepithelial lesion, p53 signature, and normal/reactive. Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma, serous tubal intraepithelial lesion, p53 signature, and normal/reactive were observed in 5, 3, 0, and 16 cases in serous carcinoma; 0, 3, 0, and 5 cases in serous borderline tumor; 0, 1, 1, and 21 cases in serous adenoma; 0, 0, 1, and 13 cases in mucinous carcinoma; 0, 0, 3, and 19 cases in endometrioid carcinoma; 0, 0, 0, and 5 cases in clear cell carcinoma; and 0, 1, 0, and 1 case in malignant Brenner tumor. Among tumors of serous histology and between carcinomas, FTE abnormalities differed significantly (P<0.05). Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas were only found in serous carcinoma. The incidence of secretory cell proliferation (SCP) was examined by PAX8 expression. The rate of SCP was extremely high in serous carcinoma (96%). Among tumors of serous histology and between carcinomas, an incidence of SCP differed significantly (P<0.05). Patients with SCP were significantly older (P<0.0001). Our observations were concordant with the hypothesis of serous ovarian carcinogenesis. The SCP has a meaningful association with serous ovarian cancer.

Key Words: Serous ovarian tumor, Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma, PAX8, Immunohistochemistry, Japanese institution


Incidence of ovarian cancer has been very low in Japan compared with western countries, but it is increasing recently 1. Mortality rate of ovarian cancer is also rising. Therefore, ovarian cancer has been very important among gynecologic malignancies in Japan.

Recent morphologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular genetic studies have led to the development of a new paradigm for the pathogenesis and origin of epithelial ovarian cancer. A dualistic model of carcinogenesis divides epithelial ovarian cancer into 2 categories, Type I and Type II 2. Accordingly, serous ovarian cancers are divided into the 2 categories.

To reduce the lifetime-risk of hereditary ovarian cancer that is related to BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy is widely accepted in western countries 35. Thorough examination of these fallopian tubes revealed frequent association of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) or tubal intraepithelial dysplasia, which usually has p53 mutations 613.

Studies to find STICs are most often based on the morphology by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining where diagnostic reproducibility is low 14. More recently, an algorithm for the diagnosis of STICs has been proposed with the use of p53 and Ki-67 immunostaining 15,16. Using the algorithm interobserver diagnostic agreement has been improved 16.

PAX8 is a transcription factor that is essential for embryonic development of the kidney, müllerian organs, and thyroid. In tubal epithelial cells secretory cells and basal cells, but not ciliated cells, express PAX8 17. PAX2 is a member of the paired box transcription factor that is critical in the embryogenesis and organogenesis of the central nervous system, eye, ear, and the genitourinary tract. PAX2 is expressed in the secretory cells of the fallopian tube epithelium (FTE). Nuclear immunolocalization parallels that of PAX8. Recently, PAX2-null secretory cell outgrowths of the fallopian tube were reported that they were frequently associated with serous borderline tumors 18. In contrast, PAX8 is always expressed in the nuclei of the tubal secretory cells. We defined the outgrowth of PAX8-positive tubal secretory cells as secretory cell proliferation (SCP).

In this study we investigated the incidence of STICs by using the diagnostic algorithm among serous tumors and between carcinomas of different types of histology to know the association of tubal epithelial abnormalities with epithelial ovarian tumor to testify the hypothesis, in which serous ovarian carcinoma originate from FTE. We also investigated the frequency of SCP by PAX8 expression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Case Selection

This study was approved by the institutional review board of Sakai City Hospital. Cases were defined as women with epithelial ovarian cancer, who underwent surgery between April 2003 and June 2013. Data for the cases were retrieved from the pathology database of Sakai City Hospital. Eighty cases were identified. The cases, whose fallopian tube could be examined histologically were selected for the study. Twelve cases were excluded because blocks of fallopian tube were not available for histologic evaluation. One case was not included because the case was tubal cancer. Sixty-seven cases were included in the study. For comparison, we also included the 8 cases with serous borderline tumor and 23 cases with serous adenoma. Clinical features of the cases were described in Table 1. In 24 cases of serous carcinoma, all cases except one were high grade.

TABLE 1.

Clinical features of the cases

graphic file with name pgp-34-9-g001.jpg

Immunohistochemistry

One or 2 blocks containing ipsilateral or contralateral fallopian tube were chosen from each case. Only 10% (10/98) of the cases were cut extensively, by Sectioning and Extensively Examining the FIMbriated end (SEE-FIM) protocol 12. Additional 5 cases were prepared extensively, so 15% (15/98) were considered as more than optimal. In the fallopian tubes examined, 49 cases (50%) included fallopian tube fimbriae. Paraffin sections of 3 µm were cut and stained with H&E and immunohistochemistry using primary antibodies, including p53 (clone DO-7, ready-to-use; Nichirei, Tokyo, Japan), Ki-67 (clone MIB-1, 1:50; Dako, Tokyo, Japan), PAX8 (clone PAX8R1, 1:50; Santa Cruz, CA), and antibasal bodies of cilia LhS28 (clone LhS28, 1:1000; Abcam, Cambridge, UK). Heat-induced pretreatment was applied for p53, Ki-67, and LhS28. VENTANA BenchMark XT system was employed for immunohistochemistry.

Histologic Evaluation and Application of the Diagnostic Algorithm

Histologic features of each fallopian tube were morphologically evaluated as unequivocal for STIC (UES) (Figs. 1, 2), suspicious for STIC (SS), or not suspicious for STIC (NS) by diagnostic criteria, shown by Visvanathan et al. 15. They used diagnostic criteria for morphology, which defined normal/reactive as having <2 diagnostic features in any length of nonciliated cells, atypical as having 2 diagnostic features in 10 or more consecutive nonciliated cells, or having 2 or more features in <10 consecutive nonciliated cells, and STIC as having 2 or more features in 10 or more consecutive nonciliated cells. The diagnostic features included nuclear enlargement, marked pleomorphism, abnormal chromatin, mitotic figure, epithelial stratification, nuclear molding, and apoptotic bodies. Final diagnoses were based on the diagnostic algorithm with combination of morphologic diagnosis and immunohistochemical results shown by Visvanathan et al. 15 (Table 2). Immunohistochemical evaluation included p53 and Ki-67. p53 was positive for the cases with diffuse intense staining over 75% of cells or completely negative staining on targeted area as well as the same staining pattern in tumor cells (Figs. 1, 2). Ki-67 labeling index ≥10% was designated as positive. The final diagnosis was based on a combination of the morphology-only diagnosis and coordinate immunohistochemical scores as per the algorithm (Table 2). Those included STIC (Figs. 1, 2), serous tubal intraepithelial lesion (STIL) (Fig. 3), p53 signature (Fig. 3), and normal/reactive.

FIG. 1.

FIG. 1

(A) Unequivocal for serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Tubal epithelia showed nuclear atypia. (B) p53 was strongly expressed in the tubal epithelium. (C) Ki-67 was frequently positive in the epithelium (Ki-67 labeling index 53%). (D) Morphology of the high-grade serous carcinoma of the same patient. Psammoma body is observed in the lower area. (E) p53 immunostaining on the same tumor. Strong nuclear staining is present [original magnification: 20× for (A–E)].

FIG. 2.

FIG. 2

(A) Unequivocal for serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Tubal epithelia showed nuclear atypia. (B) p53 was completely negative for the atypical epithelial cells. Note weakly positive staining in the normal epithelium in the right side of the image. (C) Ki-67 was frequently positive in the epithelium (Ki-67 labeling index 34%). (D) Morphology of the high-grade serous carcinoma of the same patient. (E) p53 immunostaining on the same tumor. Completely negative staining is observed [original magnification: 20× for (A–E)].

TABLE 2.

Algorithm for the diagnosis of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma

graphic file with name pgp-34-9-g004.jpg

FIG. 3.

FIG. 3

(A) Suspicious for serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Tubal epithelia showed nuclear enlargement and molding. (B) p53 was negative. (C) Ki-67 labeling index was 28% for the lesion. Tubal epithelia of this region were diagnosed as serous tubal intraepithelial lesion. (D) Not suspicious for STIC by H&E staining. (E) p53 was positive in more than 12 consecutive cells. (F) Ki-67 labeling index was <10%. Tubal epithelia of this region were diagnosed as p53 signature [original magnification: 20× for (A–F)].

Evaluation of PAX8 and LhS28 Expression

SCP was examined by PAX8 and LhS28. PAX8 was only stained in the nuclei of the tubal secretory cells, but not in the ciliated cells. LhS28 is an antibasal body marker of ciliated cells, so the staining was observed on the cytoplasmic band lying adjacent to the apical membrane and in the region of the ciliated bodies of the ciliated cells, but not on the secretory cells. PAX8 and LhS28 staining was mutually exclusive in the tubal epithelial cells. Using these antibodies, SCP was easily discerned. Nuclear staining of PAX8 in 2 or more sets of 10 or more consecutive tubal epithelial cells was considered as positive for SCP. If the area of PAX8-positive cells exceeded a half of the total epithelial area, the staining pattern was designated as PAX8 (E) (Figs. 4A, B). If the area of those clusters of PAX8-positive cells was limited in less than half of the total epithelial cells, the staining pattern was designated as PAX8 (H) (Figs. 4D, E). Loss of ciliated cells was confirmed by loss of LhS28 expression (Figs. 4C, F).

FIG. 4.

FIG. 4

(A) Morphology for fallopian tube with PAX8 (E). (B) Tubal epithelia with PAX8 (E) pattern showed diffuse staining of PAX8. (C) LhS28 staining revealed loss of cilia in the same epithelium. (D) Morphology for fallopian tube with PAX8 (H). (E) Tubal epithelial with PAX8 (H) pattern showed PAX8-positive staining in the center of the tubal epithelia. (F) LhS28 staining showed loss of cilia only in the center of the epithelia [hematoxylin and eosin staining for (A and D)]. Immunohistochemistry for (B, C, E, and F) [original magnification: 10× for (A, B, D, and E) and 20× for (C and F)].

Statistics

Comparison of patients’ age between groups was made by 1-factor analysis of variance. Comparison of patients’ age between groups of PAX8 expression was made by Student t test. Comparison between clinical stages and histologic types was made by Kruskal-Wallis 1-way analysis of variance. Correlation of malignant status and tubal epithelial abnormalities was calculated by Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Comparison between histologic types of epithelial cancer and tubal epithelial abnormalities was made by χ2 for independence test. Comparison between histologic types of epithelial cancer and PAX8 positivity was made by Mann-Whitney U test. All of the statistics were made by using STATCEL software (OMS, Japan).

RESULTS

Age and Clinical Stage

Mean age of the patients and FIGO (surgical-clinical) stage of cancer in each histologic type were shown in Table 1. Mean ages of the patients with serous tumors were not statistically different between tumors with different malignant potential. Mean ages of the patients with cancer were not different between different histologic types. Cases in advanced FIGO stages (stages II–IV) with serous carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, and malignant Brenner tumor were 88%, 21%, 36%, 20%, and 0%, respectively. Stage distribution was significantly different between histologic types of the tumor (P<0.0001).

Tubal Epithelial Abnormalities by H&E Staining

Data for tubal epithelial abnormalities by H&E staining are shown in Table 3. In serous adenocarcinoma, UES, SS, and NS evaluated by H&E-stained slides, were observed in 7, 6, and 11 cases, respectively. In serous borderline tumor, UES was found in only 1 case, and SS in 3 cases. In serous adenoma, SS were only found in 2 cases, but no UES was found. Frequency of tubal epithelial abnormalities and severity of malignant potential in serous tumors were associated significantly (P<0.001).

TABLE 3.

Tubal epithelial abnormalities in serous tumor and in carcinoma

graphic file with name pgp-34-9-g007.jpg

In carcinomas, only serous carcinoma had tubal UES in 7 cases (Table 3). SSs were found in serous carcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma, and malignant Brenner tumor. Mucinous carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma did not have any tubal epithelial abnormalities (Table 3). Frequency of tubal epithelial abnormalities and histologic types of ovarian cancer were correlated significantly (P<0.005).

Tubal Epithelial Abnormalities by Diagnostic Algorithm

Data for tubal epithelial abnormalities by diagnostic algorithm are shown in Table 3. In serous adenocarcinoma, STIC, STIL, p53 signature, and normal/reactive evaluated by diagnostic algorithm, were observed in 5, 3, 0, and 16 cases, respectively. In serous borderline tumor, STILs were found in 3 cases. In serous adenoma, STIL and p53 signature were found in 1 case each. Severity of malignant potential in serous tumors was significantly associated with the frequency of tubal epithelial abnormalities (P<0.05).

In carcinomas, only serous carcinoma had STICs. STILs were only found in fallopian tubes of serous carcinoma and malignant Brenner tumor. p53 signature was found in mucinous carcinoma and in endometrioid carcinoma (Table 3). In different histologic types of ovarian cancer, the frequency of tubal epithelial abnormalities differed significantly (P<0.05).

Mean ages of the patients with STIC, STIL, p53 signature, and normal/reactive were 64 (SE±7.3), 60 (±4.8), 60 (±3.2), and 57 (±1.7) yr, respectively. Those were not different significantly.

PAX8 Expression in Tubal Epithelia

In serous adenocarcinoma, PAX8 was positive in 96% of the cases (Table 4). In serous borderline tumor and serous adenoma, PAX8 was positive in 75% and 65%, respectively (Table 4). Severity of malignant potential in serous tumor was significantly associated with PAX8 positivity (P<0.05). In PAX8-positive cases, PAX8 (E) was observed in 78%, 67%, and 80% among cases with serous adenocarcinoma, serous borderline tumor, and serous adenoma, respectively. These were not statistically significant.

TABLE 4.

PAX8 expression of tubal epithelia in serous tumor and in carcinoma

graphic file with name pgp-34-9-g008.jpg

In serous, mucinous, endometrioid, clear cell carcinoma, and malignant Brenner tumor, PAX8 was positive in 96%, 79%, 82%, 40%, and 100%, respectively (Table 4). In different histologic types of ovarian cancer, the frequency of PAX8 positivity differed significantly (P<0.05). In PAX8-positive cases, PAX8 (E) was observed in 79%, 27%, 28%, 50%, and 100% among cases with serous carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, and malignant Brenner tumor, respectively. Those also differed significantly (Table 4) (P<0.01).

Mean age for PAX8-positive patients (n=77) was 62 (±1.4) yr, and that for PAX8-negative patients (n=21) was 42 (±3.3) yr. PAX8-positive patients are significantly older than PAX8-negative patients (P<0.0001). Among PAX8-positive patients, mean age for the patients with PAX8 (E) expression (n=45) was 65 (±1.7) yr, whereas that for the patients with PAX8(H) expression (n=32) was 56 (±2.1) yr. The patients with PAX8 (E) expression were also significantly older than those with PAX8 (H) expression (P<0.01).

DISCUSSION

Recent advance in molecular genetic studies divides ovarian cancer into 2 categories, such as Type I and Type II tumors 2. Genes related with Type I tumors include KRAS 19,20, BRAF 19,20, PTEN 21, CTNNB1 22, PIK3CA 23, ARID1A 24,25, etc. In contrast, most of Type II tumors have p53 mutations 26,27. The dualistic model of ovarian carcinogenesis best applies for serous ovarian cancer 2. In molecular studies, BRAF or KRAS mutations have been reported in about 2/3 of low-grade serous tumors 19,20. In contrast, over 95% of high-grade serous carcinomas have been reported to have p53 mutations 26.

Epidemiological studies suggest the relationship of uninterrupted ovulation with a risk of ovarian cancer 2830. It is evidenced by a number of studies, which indicate that oral contraceptives have a protective effect on ovarian cancer 28,29,31. Ovarian cancer is often advanced when diagnosed. However, clinicopathologic evidence shows that clinical stage distribution differs between histologic types of epithelial ovarian cancer. Especially, serous carcinoma has higher clinical stages than the carcinomas of other histologic types 32, as also shown in our study.

Since the discovery of familial ovarian cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, frequent association of STICs and tubal dysplasia by thorough examination of fallopian tubes taken by prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy has been reported 313. It should also be noted that a number of studies have documented a frequent association of STICs with serous ovarian cancer irrespective of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations 12,33,34. Tang et al. 34 reported that 19% of serous carcinoma in 300 consecutive gynecologic cases had STICs in their fallopian tubes. Furthermore, Maeda et al. 33 reported that 47% of serous carcinoma had STICs. They did not find STICs in the fallopian tubes of the ovarian cancer cases with the other histologic types. These lead to the hypothesis, in which STICs are the precursor lesions of the serous ovarian cancer.

Usually STICs are diagnosed on H&E-stained slides. However, interobserver reproducibility is low because of morphologic complexities in tubal epithelium 14. Recently, Visvanathan et al. 15 reported the use of algorithm for the diagnosis of STIC. Vang et al. 16 showed the algorithm worked well in their validation study.

In this study, we have shown the frequent association of the tubal epithelial abnormalities with serous carcinoma. This association was significant when compared with serous borderline tumor and serous adenoma (P<0.05, Table 3). This was also found among different histologic types of epithelial ovarian carcinomas (P<0.05, Table 3). As Maeda et al. 33 reported, we found STICs only in the fallopian tubes of the cases with serous carcinoma. Because most of the cases in our study were high grade, frequent association of STICs in serous carcinoma might reflect Type II pathway of ovarian carcinogenesis.

Association of STIC with serous carcinoma was only 20% in our study. This is comparable with 19% by the report of Tang et al. 34. However, other reports described the higher association of STICs with serous carcinoma, in a range of 47% to 75% 10,33,35. This might be reflected by the lower percentage of tubal sectioning by SEE-FIM protocol 9. Still, significant association of STICs with serous carcinoma in our study supports the hypothesis in which serous ovarian cancer originate from the FTE.

PAX8, one of the human paired box genes PAX1 through PAX9, is a transcription factor that is essential for embryonic development of the kidney, müllerian organs, and thyroid 17,36. Immunohistochemical expression of PAX8 is observed in normal tissues including renal tubular cells, ovarian surface epithelial cells, endocervical epithelial cells, endometrial epithelial cells, seminal vesicle epithelial cells, epididymal epithelial cells, thyroid epithelial cells, lymphoid cells, and pancreatic islet cells, as well as in primary neoplasms from those tissues sited above. In tubal epithelium secretory cells and basal cells, but not ciliated cells, express PAX8 17. It has been known that secretory cells of tubal epithelial cells proliferate in the patients who have BRCA mutations 13. As Visvanathan et al. 15 reported, morphologic diagnosis of STICs requires 2 or more diagnostic features in 10 or more consecutive secretory cells in the fallopian tube. We applied the same criteria of SCP to evaluate PAX8 expression. PAX2 is also one of the human paired box genes, and closely related with PAX8. Tubal secretory cells express PAX2 as well as PAX8. Laury et al. 18 reported higher frequency of secretory cell outgrowths in the cases with serous borderline tumor by negative expression of PAX2 and p73 immunohistochemically. As differed from PAX2, PAX8 is always expressed in tubal secretory cells. We used PAX8 because it is the positive marker to detect the SCP. The loss of ciliated cells was confirmed by using the ciliated body marker LhS28. This is the first study to investigate the SCP by PAX8 and LhS28 expression. In this study we observed the SCP more frequently in serous carcinoma than in borderline tumor or serous adenoma (P<0.05). Interestingly, PAX8-positive cases were observed more frequently in serous carcinoma than in carcinoma of the other histology (P<0.01). In addition, all but one case with tubal epithelial abnormalities (i.e. other than normal/reactive) showed positive PAX8 expression (data not shown). Our observation was concordant with the observation of Laury et al. 18. Although our data does not imply with certainty that the SCP of the fallopian tube would predispose serous carcinoma, PAX8-positive SCP might still have a meaningful association with serous carcinoma. It is also intriguing that the cases with PAX8-positive expression are significantly older than those with negative expression (P<0.0001). In addition, the cases with PAX8 (E) expression were significantly older than those with PAX8 (H) expression (P<0.01). These reflect that the number of tubal secretory cells will increase in older ages. The association of SCP with older age is concordant with the prevalence of ovarian cancer in older ages.

When the dualistic model of ovarian carcinogenesis is applied to the tubal epithelium, STICs are thought to be a direct precursor of Type II serous carcinoma. A precursor of Type I tumor, especially low-grade serous carcinoma, is known to be serous borderline tumor. However, the association between tubal epiethelium and serous borderline tumor is still not apparent. As Laury et al. 18 indicated, PAX2-null secretory cell outgrowths might be a precursor for low-grade serous carcinoma. In our study, PAX8-positive SCP was prevalent in borderline serous tumor as well as Type II tumors. So, SCP might be a source for precursor lesions of Type I as well as Type II tumors.

In summary, the presence of tubal epithelial abnormalities was significantly associated with malignant potential among serous tumors. Also STICs are exclusively found in serous carcinoma among epithelial ovarian cancer. Of note, PAX8 expression in fallopian tubes is also associated with malignant potential among serous tumor and more prevalent in serous histology among epithelial ovarian cancer. PAX8 overexpression was also correlated with older age. Our observations are concordant with the recent hypothesis of ovarian carcinogenesis in which serous ovarian cancer originates from the FTE. Further investigation would be necessary to confirm this issue.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank Dr Steven G. Silverberg for his kind suggestion. They also thank Shinya Sasaki, Miho Takase, Risa Okatake, and Shunsaku Suzuki for their kind technical assistance.

Footnotes

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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