title: p16(INK4a) is a useful marker of human papillomavirus integration allowing risk stratification for cervical malignancies.
abstract: The present study was conducted to assess utility of p16(INK4a) immunopositivity as a surrogate marker for genomic integration of high-risk human papillomavirus infection (hrHPV). A total of 29 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cervical low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), 27 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) and 53 invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), histologically-diagnosed between 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2008 at the University of Malaya Medical Centre were stained for p16(INK4a) (CINtec Histology Kit (REF 9511, mtm laboratories AG, Heidelberg, Germany). Immunopositvity was defined as diffuse staining of the squamous cell cytoplasm and or nucleus (involving > 75% of the intraepithelial lesions or SCCs). Staining of basal and parabasal layers of intraepithelial lesions was pre-requisite. One (3.4%) LSIL, 24 (88.9%) HSIL and 46 (86.8%) SCC were p16(INK4a) immunopositive. All normal squamous epithelium did not express p16(INK4). p16(INK4a) expression was significantly lower (p<0.05) in LSIL compared with HSIL and SCC with no difference in expression between HSIL and SCC.The increased p16(INK4a) immunopositivity in HSIL and SCC appears in line with the integrated existence of the hrHPV and may provide more insightful information on risk of malignant transformation of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions than mere hrHPV detection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. cheahpl@ummc.edu.my
authors.forename: Phaik-Leng
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Cheah
authors.forename: Lai-Meng
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Looi
authors.forename: Kean-Hooi
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Teoh
authors.forename: Kein-Seong
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Mun
authors.forename: Abdul Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Nazarina
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16