Prognostic evaluation of vulvar carcinomas: Histological, immunohistochemical, and flow-cytometric investigations

Objectives: Are newer histologic investigations helpfull in the evaluation of the prognosis of vulvar carcinoma? Methods: 147 primary squamous cell carcinomas of the vulva were examined for overall- and disease-free survival (mean observation 59.6 months). Results: A significance in prognosis was found for FIGO-stage, a new-created histologic grade, p53- and vimentin-expression and amount of T-lymphocytes in tumoral stroma. Unfavourable prognosis was detected for tumors with elevated growth fraction, high proliferating cell-compartment (S + G2 + M) and increased cytokeratin-8-expression. Conclusions: These investigations are able to describe the malignant potential of a vulvar carcinoma and should therefore influence the decision for a modified radical therapy.