Abstract :
Introduction: Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in developing country. Early diagnosis of
intraepithelial cervical neoplasia and malignancy is important. Infection with Human Papilloma Virus
(HPV) results in precancerous lesions and invasive cervical cancer. Interaction of HPV oncogenic proteins
with cellular regulatory proteins leads to upregulation of p16INK4a, a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor.
Therefore, p16INK4a overexpression is a surrogate biomarker of HPV infection making it useful in
evaluating HPV associated premalignant and malignant lesions of gynecological tract. In our study we
have used p16INK4a IHC staining to find out its correlation with dysplasia grading and cervical carcinoma.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive case series for five years duration (from Jan 2014
to Dec2018) was conducted in the Department of Pathology, IGMC & RI, Puducherry, India. A total of 43
cervical biopsies and hysterectomies were collected out of which 17 cases were of carcinoma cervix and 26
cases were of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia ( CIN). All biopsies were subjected to p16INK4a staining.
Results: The Immuno expression of p16INK4a of CIN I was 13.3%, CIN II was 20%, CIN III was 50%
and Carcinoma cervix was 100%. In normal (non dysplasia) cervical epithelium it showed, 100% negative
association.
Conclusion: IHC expression of p16INK4a in cervical biopsy is directly related to degree of histological
dysplasia and malignancy, so it may be used as a adjunct with routine histopathological examination in
identifying cervical dysplasia and also has prognostic value in the management of cervical lesions.
Keyword :
Dysplasia, Cervical cancer, p16INK4a CIN