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SUMMARY: K-RAS mutations are the most frequent molecular genetic alteration in serous ovarian tumors of borderline malignancy (SBOT). The pathogenesis of associated contralateral tumors and extraovarian implants and Müllerian inclusion cysts is obscure. We hypothesized that the comparison of K-RAS mutations in these lesions might help to distinguish multifocal from metastatic foci. Eight cases of SBOT with known K-RAS mutation (RASϩ) and two cases without mutation (RASϪ) were analyzed for comparison. DNA was extracted from multiple samples of 58 paraffin-embedded and laser-microdissected ovarian and extraovarian lesions (10 ovarian borderline tumors, 8 contralateral tumors, 25 implants, 15 inclusion cysts; total: 97 samples). K-RAS exon 1 was amplified by PCR and analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and cycle sequencing. In 12 of 14 SBOT and in 2 of 2 extraovarian implants, the K-RAS mutation could be found in different areas of the same lesion, indicating monoclonality. All RASϩ ovarian borderline tumors with contralateral tumors (six of six) harbored an identical mutation in both ovaries (in one case, a separate surface borderline tumor component contained a different mutation in addition). In 4 of 5 RASϩ ovarian tumors with extraovarian lesions, RAS mutations were also found in implants (15/21 implants [71%]) and more rarely in inclusion cysts (3 of 12 lesions [25%]). These extraovarian mutations were always identical to the one in the ovary (18 of 18 [100%]). Regarding the contralateral and extraovarian lesions of the two RASϪ SBOT, only one extraovarian implant contained a RAS mutation. The demonstration of K-RAS mutations in Müllerian inclusion cysts and implants of SBOT suggests that K-RAS mutations represent a pivotal event during neoplastic transformation of ovarian and extraovarian serous epithelium. Considering our observations, the two putative pathogenetic mechanisms for the development of implants and endosalpingiosis-multifocal tumorigenesis and spread from the ovarian primary tumor-seem to coexist. (Lab Invest 2003, 83:251-258).

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Subtyping depression is important in order to further delineate biological causes of depressive syndromes. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and outcome characteristics of distinct subtypes of depression and to assess proportion and features of patients fulfilling criteria for more than one subtype. Melancholic, atypical and anxious subtypes of depression were assessed in a naturalistic sample of 833 inpatients using DSM-IV specifiers based on operationalized criteria. Baseline characteristics and outcome criteria at discharge were compared between distinct subtypes and their overlap. A substantial proportion of patients (16%) were classified with more than one subtype of depression, 28% were of the distinct anxious, 7% of the distinct atypical and 5% of the distinct melancholic subtype. Distinct melancholic patients had shortest duration of episode, highest baseline depression severity, but were more often early improvers; distinct anxious patients had higher NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) neuroticism scores compared with patients with unspecific subtype. Melancholic patients with overlap of anxious features had worse treatment outcome compared to distinct melancholic and distinct anxious subtype. Distinct subtypes differed in only few variables and patients with overlap of depression subtypes may have independent clinical and outcome characteristics. Studies investigating biological causes of subtypes of depression should take influence of features of other subtypes into account.