Genetic analysis of synchronous mucinous tumors of the ovary and appendix

• Published in: Human pathology 1996-02, Vol.27 (2), p.165-171
• Main Authors: Chuaqui, Rodrigo F, Zhuang, Zhengping, Emmert-Buck, Michael R, Bryant, Bonita R, Nogales, Francisco, Tavassoli, Fattaneh A, Merino, Maria J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - genetics; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - pathology; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - secondary; Adult; Aged; appendiceal mucinous lesions; Appendiceal Neoplasms - genetics; Appendiceal Neoplasms - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 - genetics; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 - genetics; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 - genetics; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Heterozygote; Humans; loss of heterozygosity; Medical sciences; microdissection; Microsatellite Repeats; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary - genetics; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary - pathology; ovarian mucinous tumors; Ovarian Neoplasms - genetics; Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology; Ovarian Neoplasms - secondary; Peritoneal Neoplasms - genetics; Peritoneal Neoplasms - pathology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; pseudomyxoma peritonei; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei - genetics; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei - pathology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Tumors
• ISSN: 0046-8177; 1532-8392
• DOI: 10.1016/S0046-8177(96)90370-6

The coexistence of mucinous ovarian and appendiceal tumors in association with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PP) is well established. However, it has not been determined whether they represent independent or metastatic neoplasms. The authors analyzed microsatellites on chromosome 17q 21.3–22 (nm23), 3p 25–26 (von Hippel Lindau disease [VHL] gene), and 5q 21–22 (D5S346 locus) in 12 synchronous ovarian and appendiceal mucinous lesions. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the nm23 locus has been shown previously in ovarian carcinomas, and genetic alterations at both the 3p and 5q loci have been reported in colorectal carcinomas. The ovarian lesions consisted of nine mucinous tumors of low malignant potential and three invasive adenocarcinomas, and the appendiceal leisons consisted of eight carcinomas without invasion, two invasive carcinomas, and two mucosal hyperplasias. DNA was extracted from microdissected cells obtained from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections and amplified by polymerase chain reaction. In three specimens, genetic alterations occurred at 17q 21.3–22 in only the ovarian tumors. One of these cases showed LOH on chromosome 5q 21–22 in only the appendiceal tumor. In three other specimens, LOH at the same locus was found in both tumors. Six specimens did not show LOH at any locus. These results suggest that a subset of synchronous mucinos ovarian and appendiceal lesions showing different LOH patterns in both sites most likely represent patients with two separate primary lesions. Another group of specimens with the same allelic loss in both tumors most likely represent patients with a single primary and metastatic spread. Thus, genetic analysis of these lesions may be useful in investigating the origin of histologically similar synchronous tumors.