MIB-1 IMMUNOSTAINING IN CERVICAL-CARCINOMA OF YOUNG-PATIENTS

Objective. In the present study, we assessed whether biologic characte ristics of tumors in young patients differ from those observed in olde r patients with the same clinical and histologic characteristics, but ranging in age from 50 to 70 years. The hypothesis to be verified was whether cervical carcinoma in young patients presented an increased pr oliferative activity which might explain more aggressive behavior. Mat erials and Methods. Locally advanced cervical carcinoma tumor samples were obtained from our series of patients, maximum age 40 years, and i mmunohistochemically evaluated by monoclonal MIB 1 antibody (Immunotec h, Marseille Cedex, France) on microwave-oven-processed Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. Positive staining was expressed as a percen tage of positive cells per 10(3) counted neoplastic cells for each cas e, For each young patient, a control was selected among patients aged greater than or equal to 50 years (range 50-70) matched for stage, tum or size, histologic type and grading, and lymphvascular invasion. Resu lts. Fourteen of 73 patients (19.2%) with stage I and IIa cervical car cinoma who underwent primary radical surgery at our Institute between 1986 and 1994 were aged less than or equal to 40 years. The MIB 1 inde x was significantly higher in young patients with respect to the older group (mean +/- standard deviation, 61.6 +/- 16.3% and 45.2 +/- 12.2% , with P = 0.006). Conclusions. Although any conclusions from this stu dy need to be tempered because of the small number of patients involve d, locally advanced cervical carcinomas present in young patients show ed a more aggressive biologic behavior, expressed by a higher cell pro liferation index. (C) 1997 Academic Press.