title: Correlation of p16INK4A overexpression with human papillomavirus infection in cervical adenocarcinomas.
abstract: As human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and overexpression of p16INK4a occurs when retinoblastoma protein is inactivated by high-risk HPV, the authors studied the association of HPV infection and expression of p16INK4a in cervical adenocarcinomas. Specimens of cervical glandular neoplasias were immunostained with a p16INK4a-specific monoclonal antibody (clone E6H4). Approximately 80% of glandular neoplasms showed overexpression of p16INK4a. Exfoliated cells from 14 adenocarcinomas were further examined by p16INK4a-specific immunocytochemistry, and 12 cases showed overexpression of p16INK4a, suggesting that immunostaining for p16INK4a may be a useful diagnostic tool for cervical adenocarcinomas. The authors further examined HPV DNA in cervical adenocarcinomas with the polymerase chain reaction method. Overexpression of p16INK4a was positive in 94% of cases in which HPV16 or 18DNA was positive, a finding suggesting that HPV16 or 18 may play an important role in cervical adenocarcinomas. Overexpression of p16INK4a may be an indicator of pathogenic activity of high-risk HPVs.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000821:virology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000032:analysis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004279:DNA, Viral