Abstract
Objectives : Recent studies have noted the specific expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1β (HNF-1β) in ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA). We aimed to determine whether HNF-1β could be a specific marker for endometrial CCA.
Study Design : Cytological and histological specimens were taken from 38 cases with adenocarcinoma (6 cases with CCA ; 15 cases with G1 endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EMA), G2 12 cases with EMA, G3 5 cases with EMA). Immunostaining was performed using the monoclonal HNF-1βantibody (Santa Crus Biothecnology, CA) and the simple stain MAX (PO) (NICHIREI, Tokyo, Japan) procedure. The semi-quantitative evaluation was shown with the following score : − (negative), 1+ (weak), <30% ; 2+ (moderate), 30-70% ; 3+ (strong), <70%.
Results : HNF-1β expression for CCA in both cytological and histological specimens was observed in all cases (cytological specimens : 1+, 17% ; 2+, 17% ; 3+, 66%, histological specimens : 1+, 67% ; 3+, 33%). On the other hand, HNF-1β expressions for EMA were cytologically : G1, 13% ; G2, 17% ; G3, 20%, and histologically : G2, 8% ; G3, 20%.
Conclusion : HNF-1β would be an excellent marker for distinguishing CCA from endometrium. However, it should be noted that EMA is occasionally positive for HNF-1β. Attention is thus required when reaching a decision based on immunohistochemical results.
