Eosinophilic Cells in Ovarian Borderline Serous Tumors as a Predictor of BRAF Mutation

• Published in: Cancers 2024-06, Vol.16 (13), p.2322
• Main Authors: Badlaeva, Alina, Tregubova, Anna, Palicelli, Andrea, Asaturova, Aleksandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Cell cycle; Cytoplasm; Genetic testing; Kinases; Leukocytes (eosinophilic); Medical prognosis; Mutation; Ovarian carcinoma; Ovaries; Patients; Prognosis; Reproducibility; Ribonucleotide reductase; Senescence; Surgery; Tumors
• ISSN: 2072-6694; 2072-6694
• DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132322

According to recent reports, ovarian serous borderline tumor (SBT) harboring the V600E mutation is associated with a lower risk of progression to low-grade serous carcinoma. Preliminary observations suggest that there may be an association between eosinophilic cells (ECs) and the above-mentioned mutation, so this study aimed to evaluate interobserver reproducibility for assessing ECs. Forty-two samples of SBTs were analyzed for ECs with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical staining and genetic pro-filing were performed in all cases to verify the V600E mutation. A V600E mutation was found in 19 of 42 (45%) cases. Inter-observer reproducibility in the assessment of ECs was substantial (κ = 0.7). The sensitivity and specificity for predicting the mutation were 79% and 91%, respectively. Patients with -mutated SBTs were significantly younger than those without mutation ( = 0.005). SBTs with mutation were less likely to be accompanied by non-invasive implants than wild-type SBT: 12% (2/17) versus 33% (6/18). Seven cases were excluded due to incomplete cytoreductive surgery. Nevertheless, Fisher's exact test showed no significant differences between the two groups ( = 0.228). Overall, this study strengthens the idea that ECs in ovarian SBTs may represent a mutation with prognostic significance, which can serve as a primary screening test for V600E mutation in this pathologic entity.