Aberrant p16 methylation is a biomarker for tobacco exposure in cervical squamous cell carcinogenesis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the association between active tobacco exposure and aberrant p16 promoter methylation in primary cervical squamous cell cancer and high-grade squamous cervical dysplasia.


METHODS
p16 methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was performed on DNA that was extracted from 60 cervical cancers, 30 high-grade dysplasia specimens, and 78 normal cervical cytologic specimens. Patient data were obtained by medical record review or were collected prospectively.


RESULTS
Aberrant p16 methylation was significantly higher in squamous cell cervical cancers (61%) than in squamous high-grade dysplasia (20%) or normal cytologic specimens (7.5%). Approximately one half the women with squamous cancer and one half of the women with high-grade dysplasia were active smokers. Aberrant p16 methylation was associated with active tobacco use in patients with squamous carcinoma (odds ratio, 20.6; 95% CI, 3.6-118; P<.001) and high-grade dysplasia (odds ratio, 4.57; 95% CI, 1.63-12.78; P=.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Aberrant p16 methylation is associated strongly with active tobacco use in squamous cell cervical cancers and high-grade dysplasia.
Lea
Jayanthi S
JS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, and the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. jayanthi.lea@utsouthwestern.edu
Coleman
Robert
R
Kurien
Aleena
A
Schorge
John O
JO
Miller
David S
DS
Minna
John D
JD
Muller
Carolyn Y
CY
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D019942:Genes, p16; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
D005819:Genetic Markers