MCM2 and p53 Expression Correlate with the Spectrum of Mucinous Ovarian Tumor.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to analyze the expression of p53 and MCM2 across the spectrum of mucinous ovarian tumor (MOT) and to identify potential diagnostic markers for distinguishing benign, borderline, and malignant. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 cases of MOT, comprising mucinous cystadenoma (MCA), mucinous borderline tumor (MBT), low-grade mucinous carcinoma (LG-MC, grade 1), and high-grade mucinous carcinoma (HG-MC, grades 2 and 3). The expressions of p53 and MCM2 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analyses were performed to assess expression patterns and determine their associations across the tumor spectrum. RESULT: p53 expression in MCA demonstrated a normal staining pattern in all samples. In contrast, abnormal (mutant-type) staining was observed in MBT, LG-MC, and HG-MC at frequencies of 13.33%, 40%, and 80%, respectively. p53 expression were found significant differences between MCA and LG-MC, MCA and HG-MC, MBT and HG-MC, and LG-MC and HG-MC. Furthermore, MCM2 expression is not significantly different from the spectrum of MOT. Both p53 and MCM2 expression correlated with the spectrum of MOT (r = 0.632 (strong) and r = 0.274 (weak), respectively). Furthermore, p53 expression showed a moderate positive correlation with MCM2 expression across the spectrum of MOT (r = 0.393). CONCLUSION: The abnormal (mutant-type) p53 staining pattern increased progressively with tumor grade in MOT, indicating its association with tumor progression. Both p53 and MCM2 expressions showed positive correlations with the spectrum of MOT, reflecting their relationship with increasing malignancy. These findings suggest that p53 could serve as a complementary markers for distinguishing benign, borderline, and malignant mucinous ovarian tumors.