p16 expression in squamous carcinoma of the gynecologic tract

AC Han, MD, PhD ^a, MM Finegan, MD ^a, MI Edelson, MD ^b, NG Rosenblum, MD, PhD ^b

AIM: To examine the role of p16 in the pathogenesis of squamous carcinoma of the gynecologic tract. METHODS: Squamous carcinoma and carcinoma in situ (CIS) were examined for the expression of p16 by paraffin immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: 70% (14/20) of cervical and 71% (5/7) of vaginal squamous carcinoma and CIS were positive for p16. In normal cervix, low grade dysplasia, and 2 cases of uterine primary squamous carcinoma p16 was not detected. Cases where there were matched vaginal and cervical primaries there was concordant positive p16 expression. CONCLUSIONS: p16 is frequently seen in squamous carcinoma of the cervix and vagina. It may be a marker of transformation from a low grade to a high grade lesion. More cases of endometrial primaries need to be studied to see if these evolve by a p16 independent pathway.

KEY WORDS: dysplasia, oncoprotein.

For more information, contact hana@readinghospital.org

Paper presented at the International Symposium on Predictive Oncology and Intervention Strategies; Paris, France; February 9 - 12, 2002; in the section on Viral Oncogenesis.

http://www.cancerprev.org/Journal/Issues/26/101/996/4343