Use of p63 for distinction of glandular versus squamous lesions in cervicovaginal specimens

Significance of DNA Replication Licensing Proteins (MCM2, MCM5 and CDC6), p16 and p63 as Markers of Premalignant Lesions of the Uterine Cervix: Its Usefulness to Predict Malignant Potential

Cervical cancer continues to be a leading cancer among women in many parts of the world. Nation-wide screening with the Pap smear has not been implemented in India due to the lack of adequately trained cytologists. Identification of biomarkers to predict malignant potential of the identified low risk lesions is essential to avoid excessive retesting and follow up. The current study analyzed the expression patterns of DNA replication licensing proteins, proliferation inhibitor protein p16INK4A and tumor suppresser protein p63 in cervical tissues and smears to assess the ability of these proteins to predict progression. Methods: Cervical smears and corresponding tissues were immunostained using mouse monoclonal antibodies against MCM2, MCM5, CDC6, p16 and p63. Smears were treated with a non-ionic surfactant sodium deoxycholate prior to immuno-cytochemistry. The standard ABC method of immunohistochemistry was performed using DAB as the chromogen. The immunostained samples were scored on a 0-3+ scale and staining patterns of smears were compared with those of tissue sections. Sensitivity and specificity for each of these markers were calculated taking histopathology as the gold standard. Result: All the markers were positive in malignant and dysplastic cells. MCM protein expression was found to be up-regulated in LSIL, HSIL and in malignancies to a greater extent than p16 as well as p63. CDC6 protein was preferentially expressed in high grade lesions and in invasive squamous cell carcinomas. A progressive increase in the expression of DNA replication licensing proteins in accordance with the grades of cervical intraepithelial lesion suggests these markers as significant to predict malignant potential of low grade lesions in cervical smears. Conclusion: MCMs and CDC6 can be applied as biomarkers to predict malignant potential of low grade lesions identified in screening programmes and retesting / follow up might be confined to those with high risk lesions alone so that overuse of resources can be safely avoided.

High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion Cytology With Negative High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Tests Rarely Diagnoses Endometrial Cancer

OBJECTIVES

We hypothesized that women with cervical cytologic results of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and negative high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) test results would have a high risk of having endometrial cancer and would benefit from routine endometrial biopsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Reports of women with cytologic results of HSIL and negative HR-HPV test results were found in an electronic colposcopy database; their charts were reviewed. Rates of endometrial cancer for cytologic results of HSIL and negative HR-HPV test results were compared to a historical series for cytologic results of HSIL with positive HR-HPV and cytologic results of atypical glandular cells (AGCs) and negative HR-HPV test results.

RESULTS

Between August 10, 1998, and April 20, 2013, 56 women were evaluated in our colposcopy clinics for cytologic results of HSIL and negative HR-HPV test results; of these 56 women, 1 (1.8%) was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. No endometrial cancer was diagnosed during the follow-up (median = 63 mo) after colposcopy. The risk for endometrial cancer with cytologic results of HSIL and negative HR-HPV test results (1.8%, 1/56) did not differ from that of a historical series from 2007 to 2009 from the same colposcopy clinic in 223 women with cytologic results of HSIL and positive HR-HPV test results (0.0%, 0/223; p = .2) and was lower than the risk for endometrial cancer from the historical series from 2007 to 2009 in women with cytologic results of AGC and negative HR-HPV test results (14.4%, 4/27; p = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with cytologic results of HSIL and negative HR-HPV test results are more like those with cytologic results of HSIL and positive HR-HPV test results than those with cytologic results of AGC and negative HR-HPV test results and would unlikely to benefit from routine endometrial biopsy at the time of colposcopy.

Gynecologic cytology on conventional and liquid-based preparations: a comprehensive review of similarities and differences

Liquid-based preparations (LBPs) have largely replaced conventional Papanicolaou smears (CPS) for cervical samples in the United States and in many other industrialized countries. The two FDA-approved LBP currently in use include ThinPrep (TP), (Hologic Inc., Bedford, MA) and SurePath (SP), (BD Diagnostic, Burlington, NC). Split-sample and direct-to-vial studies have shown that LBPs show an overall improvement in sample collection and processing, reduce artifacts that interfere in diagnosis, are more sensitive, can be utilized for ancillary tests and are a cost-effective replacement for CPS. Comparative analyses of diagnostic accuracy indicate that LBPs perform at least as well as CPS. However, the added advantages of standardized, automated preparations and screening, reduced unsatisfactory rate, improved specimen adequacy and ability to perform human papillomavirus (HPV) test, are enough to continue use of LBP. The cytologic features in LBP are similar to CPS with subtle differences, particularly in background information. There are also subtle differences between the two LBPs, SP and TP, which are reflective of different sampling devices, collection media, and processing techniques. Architecturally, LBP shows smaller cell clusters and sheets and more dyscohesion. Cytologically, enhanced nuclear features and smaller cell size are more prominent. Advances in liquid-based Papanicolaou's (Pap) test have lead to well-defined patient management guidelines by the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology. Herein, we review these aspects of Pap test including, morphology, automation, ancillary tests (HPV and immunochemistry), pertinent QA/QC monitors, patient management guidelines, and review of pertinent literature.

P634A4 and TAp73 immunocytochemistry in liquid-based cervical cytology--potential biomarkers for diagnosis and progress prediction of cervical neoplasia

P63 and p73 are two homologues of the important tumor suppressor gene p53. In this study, we investigated p63 and p73 expression by immunocytochemistry using antibodies for TAp73 and p634A4 isoforms in 91 high-grade and 107 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 212 atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, 9 squamous cell carcinomas and 63 normal samples from an Asian screening population together with 47 hospital samples of carcinomas. There was significant correlation between the TAp73 and p634A4 indices (P<0.0001). Significantly, higher TAp73 and p634A4 indices were found in high-grade lesions or carcinoma when compared with atypical squamous cells and low-grade lesions (P<0.0001). Among atypical squamous cells, p634A4 indices of cases that subsequently progressed to low-grade (P=0.031) or high-grade lesions (P=0.006) were significantly higher than those that did not. For atypical squamous cells positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) as detected by Digene (61%), cases with high p634A4 index were still more likely to have subsequent high-grade lesions detected (P=0.016). Among low-grade lesions, significantly higher TAp73 (P=0.038) was found in cases that subsequently progressed to high-grade lesions. There was significant correlation between presence of high-risk HPV and p634A4 index (P=0.01). In summary, p63 and p73 immunocytochemistry are potential good markers for detection of carcinoma and high-grade lesions in cervical cytology samples and for triage management of women with atypical squamous cells and low-grade lesions.