title: "Immunocytochemical expression of P53, PTEN, FAS (CD95), P16INK4A and HPV L1 major capsid proteins in ThinPrep cervical samples with squamous intraepithelial lesions".
abstract: The aim of this study was to further investigate the immunocytochemical expression of p53, PTEN, Fas, p16, and HPV L1 capsid proteins in cervical smears with low and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL and HSIL, respectively). A total of 92 ThinPrep cervical samples, comprising 11 cases of HSIL, 61 cases of LSIL, and 20 negative cases were studied by immunocytochemical methods. The results obtained in LSIL cases were correlated with the available follow up data. Abnormal p53, PTEN, or Fas expression was found in a subset of HSIL cases, while positive expression for p16 was significantly associated with the diagnosis of HSIL (P < 0.0001, P = 0.001, P < 0.0001, and P < 0.0001, respectively). Among cases positive for p16 expression, the staining pattern was weak in 88.9% of LSIL cases and strong in 80% of HSIL cases (P < 0.0001). The p16 negative/L1 positive and p16 positive/L1 negative staining patterns were significantly associated with the presence of LSIL and HSIL, respectively (P < 0.0001). None of these markers had a significant prognostic value in LSIL cases (P > 0.05). Our results suggest that loss of PTEN or Fas expression and p53 overexpression may be involved in the process of neoplastic transformation of the cervical epithelium. Furthermore, negative or weak immunocytochemical staining for p16 in a Pap smear may strongly argue against the presence of a high grade lesion, while the combined p16/L1 staining pattern may be useful as a diagnostic adjunct for differentiating between LSIL and HSIL.
authors.affiliation: Cytopathology Department, LAIKO Athens General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grapsa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frangou-Plemenou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kondi-Pafiti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stergiou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nicolopoulou-Stamati
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patsouris
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chelidonis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Athanassiadou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011379:Prognosis; D065310:Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions of the Cervix / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; C114580:HPV L1 protein, Human papillomavirus; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D019014:fas Receptor; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human
keywords: L1; apoptosis markers; cervical smears; immunocytochemistry; p16