Diagnostic value of P63 in differentiating normal gestation from molar pregnancy

IntroductionConsidering the limitations of current pathologic methods in distinguishing twosubtypes of hydatidiform mole and non-molar pregnancy, the utility ofimmunohistochemical markers in this regards and the importance ofdifferentiating of mentioned pathologic patterns, in this study the expression ofP63 in patients with complete hydatidiform mole (CHM), partial hydatidiformmole (PHM) and non-molar pregnancy was determined.Materials and Methods:In this study, formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues of 61 patients withdefinitive pathologic diagnosis of CHM, PHM and non-molar pregnancyretrieved. Diagnoses were based on the study of hematoxylin and eosin stainedslides. Sections from all samples were stained for P63 marker usingimmunohistochemistry method. The nuclear immune reactivity of P63 markerin the three pathologic groups was determined by two pathologists.Results:P63 immune-staining was used to evaluate 20, 26 and 15 non-molar pregnancy,CHM and PHM cases, respectively. Mean ± SD of P63 nuclear immunestainingin molar pregnancy (CHM and PHM) and non-molar pregnancy were32.4 ± 17.4 and 18.9 ± 17.2, respectively (P = 0.006). The means weresignificantly different between non-molar pregnancy and PHM (P < 0.000),CHM and PHM (P = 0.02) and non-molar pregnancy and CHM (P = 0.04).Conclusion:Considering the findings of the current study, though the nuclearimmunoreactivity of P63 was higher in molar than non-molar pregnancy and inPHM than CHM, but using this marker alone is not suitable as a diagnostic testdue to its low sensitivity and specificity. It could be used as adjuvant test inconflict cases. It is recommended to evaluate the role of otherimmunohistochemical markers like Ki-67 in this regard.

کلیدواژه ها:

complete hydatidiform mole ، P63 ، partial hydatidiform mole ، pregnancy ، trophoblastic disease