Abstract:
Objective This study aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of P16 protein in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), to discuss the relationship of P16 expression with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and to predict CIN progression through P16 expression.
Methods A total of 137 histological specimens (surgical and biopsied uterocervical tissues in our hospital from) 2009 to 2011 were studied. P16 expression was detected by SP immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative scoring. A hybrid-capture Ⅱ assay for high-risk HPV-DNA detection was performed. These data were statistically analyzed.
Results Immunohistochemical staining showed that p16 expression was negative in all cases of chronic cervicitis accompanied with squamous metaplasia (0/40). By contrast, P16 protein expression was positive in 20 cases of CIN I (20/22), 19 cases of CIN Ⅱ (19/20), 25 cases of CIN Ⅲ (25/25), and 30 cases of invasive squamous cell cervical carcinoma (30/30). The expression of high-risk HPV-DNA was positive in 1 case of chronic cervicitis accompanied with squamous metaplasia, 12 cases of CIN I, 14 cases of CIN Ⅱ, 22 cases of CIN Ⅲ, and 29 cases of invasive squamous cell cervical carcinoma.
Conclusion P16 is a potentially useful biomarker in differentiating among the reactive hyperplasia of benign lesions, invasive squamous cell carcinoma, and precancerous lesions. P16 expression has different stratifications that can highly reflect the grading of CIN. The semiquantitative scoring of P16 expression may be a possible predictor of CIN lesion progression.