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The presence of clear cell glands around the ovarian endometrioid cyst has an association with clear cell carcinoma

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Abstract

We found some clear cell glands appeared in the endometrioid cysts (ECs) of the ovary (EC-CCG). To explore the clinicopathological features, molecular biological changes, and prognosis in EC-CCG and analyze the association with ovarian clear cell borderline tumors (CCBT) and clear cell carcinoma (CCC). We retrospectively examined 35 cases of EC-CCG, compared them to 13 cases of clear cell cystadenomas, 14 cases of CCBT, and 49 cases of CCC. We analyzed the differences in clinicopathological features and prognosis between the four groups. Data on clinicopathology and survival were gathered. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed in all cases, and we analyzed the molecular changes of 2 cases of EC-CCG and 1 case of CCC by whole-exome sequencing (WES). EC-CCG shared some common clinicopathological features with CCBT: they occurred before menopause, had an elevated serum CA125 level in some cases, had an ovarian cystic mass on B-ultrasound, and had a risk of recurrence. Microscopically, both diseases were based on typical EC, and clear cell glands in the EC cyst wall were seen in varying numbers. Some cases of EC-CCG had IHC results similar to those of CCBT and CCC, with positive expression of HNF1β and NapsinA; decreased expression of ER, PR, and ARID1A; and increased expression of Ki67 (> 5%). WES results revealed that EC-CCG had mutations in TP53BP1, ZNF462, FN1, and FTL (which was also mutated in CCC). In summary, we found that clear cell glands appearing around EC in the ovary have an association with CCC.

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All data included in this study are available upon request by contact with the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Yiyao Liu (Tongji University, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital) and Wei Jiang (Neo Biology Company, Shanghai) for providing whole-exome sequencing technical support.

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Commission (PDYLT2022-11).

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Author notes

  1. Jiani Qu and **g Yu contributed equally to this work and co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Jiani Qu, **g Yu, Siyuan Zhong, Wenchao Wang, Qing** Wang & Bin Du

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  1. Jiani Qu
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  3. Siyuan Zhong
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Contributions

JNQ and JY conceived the study, analyzed the results, made the figures, and wrote the manuscript together; they made equal contributions to this work; and they are co-first authors. SYZ collected clinical and pathology data. WCW and QPW performed immunohistochemistry experiments. BD participated in data analysis and provided critical revisions to the manuscript. All authors provided comments on the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Bin Du.

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This study was approved by the ethics committee of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital Institutional (Number KS22293).

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Qu, J., Yu, J., Zhong, S. et al. The presence of clear cell glands around the ovarian endometrioid cyst has an association with clear cell carcinoma. Virchows Arch 482, 1021–1034 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-022-03479-1

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