Differential expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and apoptosis-related proteins in endocervical lesions.
The development of neoplasia is associated with abnormalities of cell cycle control and apoptosis. In this study, a panel of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) and apoptosis-related proteins (p16, p21, p53, Bcl2 and hsp27) was analysed by immunohistochemistry in 91 glandular cervical lesions. A significant increase in p21 and p53 expression occurred from normal cervix (n=11) through endometriosis/tubo-endometrioid metaplasia (TEM) (n=19) and cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia (CGIN)/adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) (n=33) to invasive adenocarcinoma (n=28). p16 showed diffuse strong expression in CGIN/AIS and invasive adenocarcinoma compared with focal expression in some TEM/endometriosis lesions and no expression in normal cervix. Bcl2 was highly expressed in TEM/endometriosis compared with CGIN/AIS and adenocarcinoma. p16 immunostaining discriminated accurately between neoplastic and non-neoplastic cervical lesions, provided that diffuse strong positivity was present. Similarly, diffuse expression of Bcl2 distinguished endometriosis/TEM from CGIN/AIS. These data demonstrate that analysis of CDKIs and apoptosis-related proteins provides useful information in the diagnostic assessment of glandular lesions of the cervix.
El-Ghobashy
Alaa A
AA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Shaaban
Abeer M
AM
Innes
Jenny
J
Prime
Wendy
W
Herrington
C Simon
CS
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D050756:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D050756:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor Proteins