ADRENAL 4-BINDING PROTEIN IN COMMON EPITHELIAL AND METASTATIC TUMORS OF THE OVARY

Adrenal 4-binding protein (Ad4BP) is a transcription factor that regul ates the expression of steroidogenic enzymes. Ovarian tumors other tha n sex cord stromal tumors are occasionally associated with functioning stroma or hormonal abnormalities. To determine the steroidogenic pote ntial of these tumors, the authors determined the immunohistochemical distribution of Ad4BP in 75 patients with primary common epithelial tu mors (20 cystadenomas, 15 carcinomas of low malignant potential, and 4 0 carcinomas), and seven patients with metastatic carcinoma of the ova ry. Ad4BP immunoreactivity was observed in intratumoral stromal cells in 3 of 15 (20%) carcinomas of low malignant potential, 26 of 40 (65%) carcinomas, and three of seven (43%) metastatic carcinomas. Ad4BP imm unoreactivity was not observed in the stroma of cystadenomas. Among th e positive cases, Ad4BP-positive stromal cells were particularly distr ibuted adjacent to invasive carcinomatous glands. Among ovarian carcin omas, mucinous carcinoma showed a significantly higher number of Ad4BP -positive intratumoral stromal cells than did other histological types . Results suggest that invasion of primary or metastatic carcinoma int o the ovarian stroma, especial in the Ease of mutinous carcinoma, may render the stromal cells to acquire the potential of metabolizing and synthesizing steroid hormones. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Com pany