WT1 immunoreactivity in uterine papillary serous carcinomas is different from ovarian serous carcinomas

Am J Clin Pathol. 2002 Apr;117(4):541-5. doi: 10.1309/K84K-005F-TCB8-FV4B.

Abstract

WT1 diffusely stains most ovarian serous carcinomas; reactivity of uterine papillary serous carcinomas has not been evaluated. We studied WT1 expression in 13 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage 1 and 5 stage 3 or 4 uterine papillary serous carcinomas without ovarian metastases and compared their reactivity with the WT1 staining of 30 ovarian serous carcinomas. WT1 reactivity was evaluated with the C19 and 6F-H2 antibody clones. All 18 uterine papillary serous carcinomas were nonreactive for WT1. The nonovarian metastases of the 5 high-stage uterine papillary serous carcinomas also were nonreactive for WT1. In contrast, 29 (97%) of 30 ovarian serous carcinomas were reactive for WT1. WT1 reactivity in an unknown primary serous carcinoma would suggest it is from a nonuterine site. The mechanisms underlying these findings are unknown. They raise the possibility of genetic differences between the 2 morphologically similar neoplasms.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Cell Nucleus / chemistry
  • Cystadenocarcinoma / chemistry*
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary / chemistry*
  • Cytoplasm / chemistry
  • Endothelium / chemistry
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / analysis
  • Uterine Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • WT1 Proteins / analysis*
  • WT1 Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • WT1 Proteins