Antibody anti-p16(INK4a) in cervical cytology.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of anti-p16(INK4a) in cervical cytology.


METHODS
A case-control study was conducted in a reference center for cervical pathology. Cytology slides were collected in a standard way with Ayre spatula and Cytobrush. The slides were interpreted by 2 independent pathologists (P1, P2). The cases (n = 61) represented all cervical examinations that had resulted in a biopsy with the diagnosis of CIN 1, 2 or 3 or squamous cell carcinoma. Controls (n = 87) included all examinations with negative cytology (Papanicolaou) and negative colposcopy.


RESULTS
The sensitivity for the histologic diagnosis of CIN 2, 3 (n = 23) was 100% and 95.7% (P1, P2), respectively. The NPV for CIN 2 or worse was 100% (P1) and 98.9% (P2). The sensitivity for the diagnosis of CIN 1 was 77.8% (P1) and 58.3% (P2). The NPV for CIN 1 or worse was 90.6% (P1) and 82% (P2). The K index between the 2 pathologists was 0.74.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the antibody anti-p16(INK4a) could contribute as an adjuvant tool in the follow-up of cervical intraepithelial lesions when the cytology sample is collected in the standard way.
Rocha
Alexandre S
AS
Department of Pathology, Medical School, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. dralexandrerocha@terra.com.br
Bozzetti
Mary C
MC
Kirschnick
Luciana S
LS
Edelweiss
Maria I A
MI
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003127:Colposcopy; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16