E-cadherin immunoexpression in complete and partial hydatidiform mole

Authors

  • Melisa Lelic University of Tuzla Medical Faculty Univerzitetska 1, Tuzla Bosnia and Herzegovina https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3966-4202
  • Ermina Iljazovic Pathology Department, Laboratory Diagnostic Clinic, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Ibre Paši?a 1, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Emin Grbic University of Tuzla, Medical Faculty, Department of Physiology, Univerzitetska 1, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Suada Ramic University of Tuzla, Medical Faculty, Department of Histology and embryology, Univerzitetska 1, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Jasminka Mustedanagic-Mujanovic Pathology Department, Laboratory Diagnostic Clinic, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Ibre Paši?a 1, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5457/ams.v55i1.688

Keywords:

E-cadherin, immunohistochemistry, complete mole, partial mole

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Aim: The aim of the study was to estimate the correlation between E-cadherin immunoexpression and patohistological features of hydatidiform moles (HM) evacuated during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Material and methods: Research was performed on 100 samples of paraffin embedded with both 50 complete and 50 partial HM, with a confirmed diagnosis following a second pathologist review. Semi-quantitative analysis of the patohistological features of the mole (hydrops of villi, trophoblast proliferation, trophoblast pseudoinclusions, trophoblast nuclear atypia) was performed as well as E-cadherin immunostaining of representative slides. The pattern of E-cadherin immunoexpression was scored semi-quantitatively for intensity of staining and percentage of positive cells among villous cytotrophoblasts.

Results: Trophoblast pseudoinclusions, a common feature in partial but not complete moles, showed a strong positive correlation with E-cadherin expression intensity but not with the percentage of positive cells. Hydrops, trophoblast proliferation, and trophoblast nuclear atypia showed a strong negative correlation with E-cadherin expression, both in intensity of expression and percentage of positive cells.

Conclusion: Trophoblast pseudoinclusions in first trimester molar specimen, are a strong indicator of the benign potential of partial moles.

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Published

2025-08-29

Issue

Vol. 55 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Original papers

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