The immune complex p53 protein/anti-p53 autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of ovarian serous carcinoma

Abstract

Objectives: The tests conducted were intended to analyze the concentration of p53 protein and anti-p53 autoantibodies in serum of women with ovarian tumours.

Material and methods: The study included patients with diagnosed ovarian cancer: Cystadenoma serosum or Cystadenocarcinoma papillare serosum at IIIc stage (including 10 women who had G1, 14 women who had G2 and 30 women who had G3 staging). Concentrations of parameters were measured by ELISA.

Results: The analysis of the obtained results showed statistical significance between the concentration of p53 protein depending on the degree of differentiation of G1 and G3 (p < 0.001) and anti-p53 autoantibodies depending on the degree of differentiation of G1 and G2 (p < 0.05) as well as G2 and G3 (p < 0.01). In addition, the determined p53/anti-p53 autoantibodies ratio was only significant between G1 and G2 (p < 0.05), as was the assessment of the percentage of the tested parameters in the immune complex.

Conclusions: Immune system disorders involving the p53 protein and anti-p53 autoantibodies may be one of the immune mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of ovarian serous cancer.

Keywords: autoantibodies anti-p53/p53 protein; ovarian cancer.