We used a multimodal nonlinear optics microscopy, specifically two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF), second and third harmonic generation (SHG∕THG) microscopies, to observe pathological conditions of ovarian tissues obtained from human samples. We show that strong TPEF + SHG + THG signals can be obtained in fixed samples stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stored for a very long time, and that H&E staining enhanced the THG signal. We then used the multimodal TPEF-SHG-THG microscopies in a stored file of H&E stained samples of human ovarian cancer to obtain complementary information about the epithelium∕stromal interface, such as the transformation of epithelium surface (THG) and the overall fibrillary tissue architecture (SHG). This multicontrast nonlinear optics microscopy is able to not only differentiate between cancerous and healthy tissue, but can also distinguish between normal, benign, borderline, and malignant specimens according to their collagen disposition and compression levels within the extracellular matrix. The dimensions of the layers of epithelia can also be measured precisely and automatically. Our data demonstrate that optical techniques can detect pathological changes associated with ovarian cancer.

BackgroundNonlinear optical (NLO) microscopy techniques have potential to improve the early detection of epithelial ovarian cancer. In this study we showed that multimodal NLO microscopies, including two-photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF), second-harmonic generation (SHG), third-harmonic generation (THG) and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) can detect morphological and metabolic changes associated with ovarian cancer progression.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe obtained strong TPEF + SHG + THG signals from fixed samples stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) and robust FLIM signal from fixed unstained samples. Particularly, we imaged 34 ovarian biopsies from different patients (median age, 49 years) including 5 normal ovarian tissue, 18 serous tumors and 11 mucinous tumors with the multimodal NLO platform developed in our laboratory. We have been able to distinguish adenomas, borderline, and adenocarcinomas specimens. Using a complete set of scoring methods we found significant differences in the content, distribution and organization of collagen fibrils in the stroma as well as in the morphology and fluorescence lifetime from epithelial ovarian cells.Conclusions/SignificanceNLO microscopes provide complementary information about tissue microstructure, showing distinctive patterns for serous and mucinous ovarian tumors. The results provide a basis to interpret future NLO images of ovarian tissue and lay the foundation for future in vivo optical evaluation of premature ovarian lesions.

In this study we showed that second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy combined with precise methods for images evaluation can be used to detect structural changes in the human ovarian stroma. Using a set of scoring methods (alignment of collagen fibers, anisotropy, and correlation), we found significant differences in the distribution and organization of collagen fibers in the stroma component of serous, mucinous, endometrioid and mixed ovarian tumors as compared with normal ovary tissue. This methodology was capable to differentiate between cancerous and healthy tissue, with clear cut distinction between normal, benign, borderline, and malignant tumors of serous type. Our results indicated that the combination of different image-analysis approaches presented here represent a powerful tool to investigate collagen organization and extracellular matrix remodeling in ovarian tumors.

Three cases of intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) of the uterus, a rare benign smooth-muscle tumor, are described. A preoperative diagnosis of IVL was not made in any of the patients, all of which presented with a pelvic mass with the presumptive diagnosis of leiomyoma. Surgical exploration confirmed the presence of uterine mass and two of the three cases showed extra-uterine extension into the ovarian or uterine veins. Histological examination demonstrated a fascicular pattern of bland spindle-shaped smooth-muscle cells, which extended to veins inside the myometrium or to extrauterine veins. This was confirmed by immunohistochemical stain for desmin and factor VIII. Despite their histological benignity, these lesions have a tendency to metastasize and are closely related to the conditions called "benign metastasizing leiomyoma" and "intracaval mass and cardiac extension". The primary treatment of IVL is hysterectomy and excision of any extrauterine tumor, when technically feasible. Anti-estrogenic therapy has been suggested as potentially useful in controlling of unresectable tumor. According to the literature, the follow-up must be long and periodic postoperative ultrasonic or magnetic nuclear resonance imaging studies may be useful in detecting growth of residual intravascular tumor.

Abstract. We show that combined multimodal nonlinear optical (NLO) microscopies, including two-photon excitation fluorescence, second-harmonic generation (SHG), third harmonic generation, and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) can be used to detect morphological and metabolic changes associated with stroma and epithelial transformation during the progression of cancer and osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) disease. NLO microscopes provide complementary information about tissue microstructure, showing distinctive patterns for different types of human breast cancer, mucinous ovarian tumors, and skin dermis of patients with OI. Using a set of scoring methods (anisotropy, correlation, uniformity, entropy, and lifetime components), we found significant differences in the content, distribution and organization of collagen fibrils in the stroma of breast and ovary as well as in the dermis of skin. We suggest that our results provide a framework for using NLO techniques as a clinical diagnostic tool for human cancer and OI. We further suggest that the SHG and FLIM metrics described could be applied to other connective or epithelial tissue disorders that are characterized by abnormal cells proliferation and collagen assembly.

The study was designed to evaluate the prognostic importance of clinical and pathologic variables with p53 and Bcl-2 in epithelial ovarian cancer using multivariate analysis. Tumor tissues from 90 patients were analyzed immunohistochemically for p53 and Bcl-2 expression. Hazard ratios were calculated in univariate and multivariate survival analyses. Forty-two (47%) were considered positive for p53 expression and 18 (20%) were positive for Bcl-2. Positive expression for p53 was less frequent in patients in FIGO stage I (22%). Positive staining for Bcl-2 correlated significantly with the histologic type (P < 0.01). No direct correlations could be demonstrated between p53 and Bcl-2 expression and age or histologic grade. In univariate analysis, p53 and Bcl-2 expression were not significantly correlated with overall survival, disease-free survival, or progression time. FIGO stage III and IV and residual disease > or =2 cm3 after first surgery were significantly correlated with poor outcome in univariate analysis. FIGO stage retained their independent prognostic value in multivariate analysis. Neither p53 nor Bcl-2 had any significant influence on outcome in multivariate survival analysis. FIGO stage proved to be the only significant independent prognostic factor in epithelial ovarian cancer, although residual disease remains correlated with disease-free survival.

In this work, we proposed and built a multimodal optical setup that extends a commercially available confocal microscope (Olympus VF300) to include nonlinear second harmonic generation (SHG) and third harmonic generation (THG) optical (NLO) microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). We explored all the flexibility offered by this commercial confocal microscope to include the nonlinear microscopy capabilities. The setup allows image acquisition with confocal, brightfield, NLO/multiphoton and FLIM imaging. Simultaneously, two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and SHG are well established in the biomedical imaging area, because one can use the same ultrafast laser and detectors set to acquire both signals simultaneously. Because the integration with FLIM requires a separated modulus, there are fewer reports of TPEF+SHG+FLIM in the literature. The lack of reports of a TPEF+SHG+THG+FLIM system is mainly due to difficulties with THG because the present NLO laser sources generate THG in an UV wavelength range incompatible with microscope optics. In this article, we report the development of an easy-to-operate platform capable to perform two-photon fluorescence (TPFE), SHG, THG, and FLIM using a single 80 MHz femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser source. We described the modifications over the confocal system necessary to implement this integration and verified the presence of SHG and THG signals by several physical evidences. Finally, we demonstrated the use of this integrated system by acquiring images of vegetables and epithelial cancer biological samples.

Sagarra RAM, Andrade LALA, Martinez EZ, Pinto GA, Syrjänen KJ, Derchain SFM. P53 and BCL-2 as prognostic predictors in epithelial ovarian cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2002;12:720-727.The study was designed to evaluate the prognostic importance of clinical and pathologic variables with p53 and Bcl-2 in epithelial ovarian cancer using multivariate analysis. Tumor tissues from 90 patients were analyzed immunohistochemically for p53 and Bcl-2 expression. Hazard ratios were calculated in univariate and multivariate survival analyses. Forty-two (47%) were considered positive for p53 expression and 18 (20%) were positive for Bcl-2. Positive expression for p53 was less frequent in patients in FIGO stage I (22%). Positive staining for Bcl-2 correlated significantly with the histologic type (P < 0.01). No direct correlations could be demonstrated between p53 and Bcl-2 expression and age or histologic grade. In univariate analysis, p53 and Bcl-2 expression were not significantly correlated with overall survival, disease-free survival, or progression time. FIGO stage III and IV and residual disease ≥2 cm 3 after first surgery were significantly correlated with poor outcome in univariate analysis. FIGO stage retained their independent prognostic value in multivariate analysis. Neither p53 nor Bcl-2 had any significant influence on outcome in multivariate survival analysis. FIGO stage proved to be the only significant independent prognostic factor in epithelial ovarian cancer, although residual disease remains correlated with disease-free survival.Ovarian cancer remains a cause of significant mortality among the cancers of the female reproductive system. According to the DATASUS registry, the prevalence of ovarian cancer in Brazil was 3.6/100,000 women in 1998, resulting in 1830 deaths. This malignancy accounts for almost 2% of all cancer deaths among women and currently ranks third among all gynecological cancers (1) .