Diagnostic Panel for Ovarian Mucinous Neoplasms
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2020
According to Najla Aldaoud, MD, of the Jordan University of Science and Technology, and colleagues, the combination of PAX8 and SATB2 immunohistochemical staining as part of a diagnostic panel can help distinguish between primary ovarian mucinous neoplasms and metastatic mucinous neoplasms. Because of substantial overlap in morphologic features and staining profiles, distinction between these two types of cancers has been difficult. Results from the study were published in BMC Research Notes.
“If the tumor is positive for PAX8, it is most likely to be of ovarian origin. On the other hand, positivity for SATB2 is most likely of colonic/appendiceal tumors,” the authors wrote.
In this single-center, in vitro study, the researchers compared the staining profiles of 50 ovarian, 63 colorectal, and 9 appendiceal mucinous neoplasms. Samples were stained with immunohistologic markers CK7, CK20, CDX2, PAX8, and SATB2.
The researchers found positive PAX8 staining in 32% of the ovarian neoplasms and in none of the colorectal and appendiceal neoplasms; positive SATB2 staining was found in 2% of ovarian samples, 78% of appendiceal samples, and 49% of colorectal samples. Positive CK7 staining was reported in 78%, 33%, and 10% of ovarian, colorectal, and appendiceal neoplasms, and CK20 staining was positive in 24%, 89%, and 87% of neoplasms, respectively. Positive staining for CDX2 was found in 14% of ovarian samples, 91% of colorectal samples, and 100% of appendiceal samples.
“PAX8 can differentiate between [ovarian mucinous neoplasm] and [appendiceal mucinous neoplasms] with high specificity but low sensitivity. CDX2 is the most sensitive marker for [colorectal cancer] and [appendiceal mucinous neoplasm], whereas SATB2 has better specificity,” the authors concluded.
