P16INK4a Expression of Uterine Cervical Biopsy Specimen in SBMCH

The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus which connects this organ to the vagina through the endocervical canal. It is divided into the vagina (portiovaginalis) and one that lies above the vaginal vault (supravaginal portion). The outer surface of the portiovaginalis is known as the  ectocervix or exocervix and the portion related to the endocervical canal corresponds to the endocervix. Carcinoma cervix accounts for the most common form of cancer by 13% of all the women affected cancers. The P16INK 4a is  a tumour suppressor protein which is a CDKN2A gene product, an  inhibitor  of  cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and 6 which is encoded  by  tumour suppressor gene INK 4a. Objective: The present study is to evaluate the P16INK 4a expression in cervical biopsy specimens and to correlate it with the histopatholgical findings. Materials and Methods: Cervical biopsy specimens were processed using rotary microtome and tissue blocks cut in sections of 3-5 μm was taken. Results: P16INK4a expression on cervical biopsy specimen showed that those with inflammatory cervical histology, benign lesions of the cervix along with premalignant lesions of cervix are negative for P 16INK4a and all malignant lesions are P 16INK4a positive. Conclusion: Hence P16INK4a immunoreactivity may be used for the diagnosis of neoplastic lesions of the cervix. But in our study, only a small size sample was positive. So, P16INK4a is used as one of the valuable markers for diagnosing neoplastic lesions of the cervix.