Objective: To evaluate the value of p16INK4a immuncytochemical examination in cytological screening of cervical carcinoma and precancerous lesions.
Methods: p16JNK4a immuncytochemical detection was performed on 220 specimens remaining from liquid-based cytology, followed up by biopsy histology , and compared with the results of high-risk human papillomavirus ( HR - HPV ) DNA tests . Results In patients with cytological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma( SCC) , high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) , low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) , atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H) , and atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) , the positive rates of p16INK4a were 100.0% (7/7), 92. 2% (107/116) , 24. 3% (17/70) , 100. 0% (14/14) and 36.4% (4/ 11) , respectively. In 111 of the 150 p6INK4a positive cases, we found 97 (87.4% ) cases which had biopsy diagnosises of > or =CIN2, but none in 18 of 70 p16INK4a negative cases was. The difference in the positive rates for p16INK4a between cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1 and > or =CIN2 lesions had statistical significance (P < 0. 01) , whereas for HR-HPV DNA test it was not.
Conclusion: p16LNK4a is over-expressed in a HSIL, and it may be useful in cytological screening of high risk patients.