V. Persaud et al., CELL PROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY AND MUTATION OF P53 SUPPRESSOR GENE IN HUMAN GESTATIONAL TROPHOBLASTIC DISEASE, West Indian Medical Journal, 42(4), 1993, pp. 142-143
Cell proliferative activity and the overaccumulation of P53 suppressor
gene were evaluated in 26 cases of gestational trophoblastic disease
and five cases with normal placentae. Formalin-fixed; paraffin-embedde
d histological sections were used for immunohistochemistry, utilizing
the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique and antibodies to PCNA (prolife
rative cell nuclear antigen) and to P53 (product of suppressor gene).
Positive reactions for PCNA were graded from 1(+) to 3(+) (1(+) - less
than 10% of cells; 2(+) - 10 - 50%; 3(+) - more than 50%). Eight of 1
0 cases of choriocarcinoma (80%) showed moderate to strong reactivity
for PCNA (2(+) and 3(+)). All 9 cases with hydatidiform mole and 6 of
7 cases with partial mole also demonstrated 2(+) and 3(+) reactions fo
r PCNA. There was minimal or no PCNA staining in the trophoblastic cel
ls of normal placentae. Five of lo cases with choriocarcinoma (50%) ex
hibited P53 overaccumulation as did 7 of 9 cases with hydatidiform mol
e (78%). In hydatidiform moles, P53 staining was limited to the areas
of trophoblastic proliferation separate from chorionic villi. None of
the partial moles or normal placentae showed P53 overaccumulation. It
is concluded that the cell proliferative activity of choriocarcinomas
as well as complete and partial hydatidiform moles are comparable. On
the other hand, the mutation of P53 suppressor gene, as demonstrated b
y the overaccumulation of P53