Diagnostic and prognostic inferences of Tricho-rhino-phalangeal Syndrome 1 (TRPS1) protein immunohistochemical expression in primary epithelial ovarian cancers

Abstract

Tricho-rhino-phalangeal Syndrome 1 (TRPS1) protein is a transcription factor that is altered in multiple cancers. Its role in epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs) is still unexplored. This cross-sectional study investigates the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of TRPS1 in EOCs exploring its diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic inferences in a total of 127 EOC patients diagnosed at Oncology Center, Mansoura University. Tissue microarray sections were stained with anti-TRPS1. Based on quantitative scoring, TRPS1 was expressed in 74% of EOCs: 26% low-positive and 48% high-positive expression. TRPS1 was expressed in endometrioid, clear cell, high-grade serous, mucinous, and low-grade serous carcinomas (92.9, 78.6, 73.8, 71.4, and 50%, respectively), with a high-positive expression in endometrioid (71.5%), followed by mucinous (57.1%), then high-grade serous (50%) carcinomas. There were no statistically significant associations with most of the analyzed variables or survival outcomes, though the TRPS1-positive group had slightly better overall and disease-free survival early on, but this advantage diminished over time. In conclusion, TRPS1 is substantially expressed in EOCs and across different histological subtypes. It may be used in diagnosis of EOC; however, it is not a reliable prognostic marker. Alongside breast carcinoma, EOC should be considered in differential diagnosis it TRPS1 -positive metastatic lesions of unknown primary.