Apoptotic bodies as a morphological feature in serous ovarian carcinoma: correlation with nuclear grade, Ki-67 and mitotic indices

This study evaluated the relation of apoptosis with mitotic activity, Ki-67 indices, and nuclear and architectural grades in serous ovarian carcinoma. Apoptotic body (ABI) and mitotic indices (MI) were obtained by examining hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections from 35 serous ovarian carcinomas for apoptotic bodies and mitotic figures. ABI and MI were reported as the number of apoptotic bodies, and mitotic figures and immunostaining for Ki-67, respectively, as positive cells in 1000 cells. Nuclear grade was determined as grade 1 n = 11], grade 2 n = 13], and grade 3 n = 11] according to recently defined criteria. There was a significant correlation between Ki-67 indices and ABI (p < 0.0001), Ki-67 and MI (p < 0.0001), as well as between MI and ABI (p < 0.0001). ABI increased with nuclear grade (p < 0.0001) and the type of the histological differentiation pattern (from glandular to papillary and solid architectural patterns) (p < 0.0001). Apoptosis, quantitated by ABI, is positively correlated with proliferation, thereby constituting a factor in the regulation of tumor growth of serous ovarian carcinomas. The positive correlation between ABI and increasing nuclear grade, mitotic activity, and architectural growth pattern may indicate that apoptotic bodies are another variable for grading serous ovarian carcinomas.