Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026

RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: March 11, 2014
Expression of p16INK4 and Rb Genes in Cervical Neoplasm
Y F Wong1, T H Cheung, T K Chung
1*Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology †Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong.
Background:
The molecular events surrounding the pathogenesis of human cervical cancer remain to be defined to a significant extent. The current study investigates the expression of two putative tumor suppressor genes p16 and Rb in cervical neoplasm.
Materials And Methods:
Tissue was collected from 16 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) patients and 91 cervical cancer patients prior to definitive treatment. Immunohistochemical staining for p16 and Rb protein was performed in these cases to determine the relationship between the expression of these two genes in premalignant and malignant neoplasias of the cervix.
Results:
Eight (50%) CIN and 9 (10%) of cervical carcinoma cases lacked p16 expression, while 4 CIN (25%) and 34 carcinoma (37%) cases did not display Rb expression. The prevalence of negative p16 expression in CIN was significantly higher than in cervical carcinoma (p < .01). The prevalence of negative Rb expression was higher than was negative p16 expression in cervical carcinoma (p < .01). Alterations of p16 and Rb are relatively exclusive in both CIN and carcinoma (p < .01). No statistically significant relationship was found between either p16 or Rb expression and tumor cell type, histological grade, or clinical stage in cervical carcinoma.
Conclusions:
Deficiency of either p16 or Rb protein appears to be contributory to oncogenesis of cervical neoplasm in different subgroups of patients. Whether negative p16 expression commonly is involved in the pathogenesis of CIN must be confirmed.
Related Concept Videos
The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Negative Regulator Molecules
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Abnormal Proliferation
Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity

