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Imiquimod‐induced clearance of HPV is associated with normalization of immune cell counts in usual type vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia
Author(s) -
Terlou Annelinde,
Seters Ma van,
Kleinjan Alex,
HeijmansAntonissen Claudia,
Santegoets Lindy A.M.,
Beckmann Ilse,
Beurden Marc van,
Helmerhorst Theo J.M.,
Blok Leen J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.25302
Subject(s) - imiquimod , vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia , medicine , vulvar neoplasm , cervical intraepithelial neoplasia , dermatology , normalization (sociology) , intraepithelial neoplasia , immune system , premalignant lesion , vulva , immunology , prostate , sociology , anthropology , cervical cancer , cancer
Recently, we reported on the efficacy of imiquimod for treatment of usual type vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (uVIN). A histologic regression of uVIN to normal tissue was observed in 58% of patients. As success of treatment is related to clearance of high‐risk human papilloma virus (HPV), the aim of our study was to assess differences in immune cell counts and in the expression of p16 INK4a in VIN tissue before and after imiquimod treatment, in relation to HPV clearance and clinical response. Vulvar tissue samples taken prior to imiquimod treatment and 4 weeks after treatment were tested for the presence of HPV. Previously determined immune cell counts (CD1a, CD207, CD208, CD123/CD11c, CD94, CD4, CD8 and CD25/HLA‐DR) in epidermis and dermis of 25 VIN patients and 19 healthy controls were completed with the counts for CD14 and CD68. The expression of p16 INK4a was investigated by immunohistochemistry in 15 patients. Before imiquimod treatment, both HPV cleared and HPV noncleared patients showed mainly in the dermis significantly upregulated immune cell counts compared to healthy controls. However, in patients that cleared HPV and showed histologic regression already 4 weeks after imiquimod treatment, immune cell counts and p16 INK4a expression were normalized. In conclusion, our data indicate that imiquimod‐induced clearance of HPV results in normalization of counts for certain immune cells and is strongly correlated with histologic regression of the disease.