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Immunocytochemical staining of p16 INK4a protein from conventional Pap test and its association with human papillomavirus infection
Author(s) -
Pientong Chamsai,
Ekalaksananan Tipaya,
Kongyingyoes Bunkerd,
Kritpetcharat Onag,
Swadpanich Ussanee,
Pengsa Prasit,
Yuenyao Pissamai
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/dc.20122
Subject(s) - ascus (bryozoa) , papanicolaou test , papanicolaou stain , medicine , pathology , dysplasia , staining , hpv infection , cervical cancer , immunohistochemistry , polymerase chain reaction , intraepithelial neoplasia , cancer , biology , prostate cancer , gene , biochemistry , botany , ascospore , spore
The p16 INK4a protein is immunocytochemically detected in liquid‐based (LB) specimens as a diagnostic marker of cervical dysplasia and neoplasia. Its up‐regulation is promoted by high‐risk human papillomavirus (HR‐HPV) infection. We aimed to detect p16 INK4a on conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) test (CPT) slides and to determine the relationship between its overexpression and HR‐HPV infection. CPT and LB Pap test (LBPT) slides (165 samples of each) were examined by immunocytochemical staining for p16 INK4a . After polymerase chain reaction (PCR), HPV‐DNA was genotyped by dot blot hybridization. The CPT slides displayed more numerous dispersed squamous cells and LBPT slides had a clearer background. Positive p16 INK4a on CPT occurred in 0% (0/30), 52.5% (21/40), 54.3% (19/35), 100% (30/30), and 100% (30/30) in normal, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), high‐grade SILs (HSILs), and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) cases, respectively. LBPT slides showed comparable results but were less sensitive. HPV‐DNA was detected in 86.7, 70, 45, 57.14, and 10% in SCCs, HSILs, ASCUS, LSILs, and normal cervical cells, respectively. Because HR‐HPV was identified in all HPV + samples of high‐grade dysplasia (HSILs and SCCs) and all positive p16 INK4a samples infected with HR‐HPV, the association of p16 INK4a overexpression with HR‐HPV infection was confirmed. This study suggests that immunocytochemical staining of p16 INK4a on CPT slides is convenient and cost‐effective for cervical cancer screening by the detection of dysplastic cells infected with HR‐HPV. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2004;31:235–242. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.