Histomorphological Evaluation of Desmoplastic Tumor Stroma in Malignant Ovarian Surface Epithelial Tumors

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is the 8(th) most common cancer in women worldwide. Tumor budding is defined as a type of invasive growth in carcinomas with either a single tumor cell or a cluster of up to four cells at the invasive tumor front and is associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition. A reactive stroma rich in cancer-associated fibroblasts is associated with higher tumor grade and poorer prognosis in breast, colorectal, and oral cancers. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to highlight the prognostic significance of tumor budding and fibrotic cancer stroma in malignant ovarian surface epithelial tumors with known prognostic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted over a 2-year period, in which all histologically diagnosed cases of malignant ovarian surface epithelial tumors who underwent surgery were included. The fibrotic stroma was classified into three distinct categories – mature, intermediate, and immature. The number of tumor buds was counted at the invasive front of the tumor and graded based on the number of buds – 0–5, 5–9, and ≥10 buds. RESULTS: Among the 50 cases, 32% (16 cases) had mature stroma, whereas 30% (15 cases) and 38% (19 cases) had intermediate and immature stroma, respectively. Although a significant association could not be established between tumor budding and stroma grade, a fair agreement was established between them. A significant association could be established between histological grade with both tumor budding (P = 0.03) and fibrotic stroma grade (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The study highlighted the role of stromal response in malignant surface epithelial tumors of the ovary since a higher-grade tumor was associated with an immature stroma, whereas a lower-grade tumor was associated with a mature stroma.