Unraveling SET: Exploring ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma and its BRCA1/2 immunoexpression
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
BRCA1 and BRCA2 (breast cancer type 1 and 2 susceptibility protein antibody) dysfunction, frequently seen in ovarian high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSC), often results from germline mutations, somatic mutations, and promoter methylation. Identification of tumors with BRCA defects has therapeutic and prognostic implications.
Materials and Methods:
Our goal was to assess the clinicopathological characteristics and significance of solid, pseudoendometrioid, and transitional (SET) ovarian HGSC and to correlate these with BRCA1 and 2 immunoexpression.
Result:
Of the total 45 HGSC cases assessed, SET growth pattern was seen in 64.4% (29/45) cases. Furthermore, 35.5% (16/45) of the total cases showed BRCA1 loss, and 17.7% (8/45) cases showed BRCA2 loss. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), necrosis, lymphovascular invasion, and BRCA1 loss positively correlated with SET pattern morphology.
Conclusion:
Immunohistochemical analysis for BRCA1 is an effective and alternative method for the detection of BRCA1 dysfunction and can be correlated with the histomorphological pattern of HGSC.