Clinicopathological importance of survivin immunoexpression in reproductive age patients with serous borderline ovarian tumors

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate survivin immunoexpression and the clinicopathologic correlations in serous borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) patients <= 40 years old. Materials and Methods: A total of 36 BOT cases were evaluated. After excluding the mucinous type and patients over 40 years of age, 20 serous BOT cases meeting the criteria were included. A similar number of benign ovarian cysts and 20 serous malign ovarian tumors were randomly included as the control group. The patients were then staged based on their surgical findings and 2014 FIGO criteria, and their histological tumor types obtained from pathological specimens were determined using WHO criteria. The survivin levels in the specimens were analyzed using immunohistochemical assays. Results: Positive survivin expression was detected in 10% of benign tumors, 100% of serous BOTs, and 100% of serous malign ovarian tumors. Mean survivin immunoreactivity was statistically similar between groups and it was found to be significantly higher in both groups compared to the control group. Survivin expression was positively correlated with FIGO stage, tumor grade, microinvasion, and micropapillary pattern. Conclusion: Survivin immunoexpression is correlated with the malignancy potential of serous BOTs, and that survivin immune expression may be a histopathological marker that will help in making a decision on fertility sparing surgery and follow upin young patients.