The diagnostic value of Ki-67, P53 and P63 in distinguishing partial Hydatidiform mole from hydropic abortion

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of Ki-67, P53 and P63 in hydropic abortion and partial mole and to explore possible role of these three parameters in distinguishing partial mole from hydropic. METHODS: The hydropic abortion (n = 13) and partial mole (n = 23) were retrieved from the files of 2002 to 2010 at the Department of Pathology, Peking University People's Hospital and Department of Pathology, Haidian Maternal and Child Health Hospita1. All cases had typical histological features and complete clinical information. All pathologic diagnoses were reviewed by two gynaecologic pathologists and had no conflict. All cases showed P57 negative, which can exclude the diagnosis of CHM. An immunochemical study of the expressions of Ki-67, P53 and P63 was performed. RESULTS: Microscopically, the pathologic characteristics of a HA include villous oedema with minimal to no cistern formation and mild trophoblastic hyperplasia. In contrast, the pathologic features of PHM were characterized by focal trophoblastic hyperplasia and a variable degree of hydropic swelling with central cistern formation. The Ki-67 expression was observed in the nuclear of cytotrophoblastic cell and intermediate trophoblasts population within placental tissue. The Ki-67 expression in HA is less than that in PHM. The p53 expression was observed in the nuclear of cytotrophoblastic cell and intermediate trophoblasts population within placental tissue. There was a significant difference between HA and PHM. Positive staining for P63 was localized in the nuclei of cytotrophoblastic cell population. No significant difference was observed in positive rate of p63 expression between HA and PHM. CONCLUSION: The high Ki-67 labeling index and over-expression of p53, detected by immunohistochemistry, could serve as useful adjuncts to conventional methods of diagnosis in distinguishing PHM from HA. Due to, however, the limited samples, it needs to expand the number of the cases to verify this conclusion.