p16INK4a as an adjunct test in cervical cytology

Area of Science:

• Gynecologic pathology
• Oncology
• Molecular diagnostics

Background:

• Cervical cancer screening relies on cytology and HPV testing.
• P16INK4a expression is a potential biomarker for cervical lesions.
• Investigating P16INK4a's role alongside cytology and HPV is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the correlation between cervical cytology, P16INK4a expression, and HPV infection.
• To evaluate P16INK4a as a biomarker for cervical lesion severity.

Main Methods:

• 100 subjects with suspected cervical lesions underwent cervical smear analysis.
• Immunocytochemistry was used to detect P16INK4a protein expression.
• Histological findings served as the gold standard for comparison.

Main Results:

• Increased P16INK4a expression was observed in 36% of subjects.
• Significant positive correlations were found between P16INK4a intensity and pathological/histological findings (Spearman r = 0.70-0.71, p < 0.001).
• P16INK4a expression was significantly higher in HPV16-positive patients (p = 0.0065).

Conclusions:

• P16INK4a expression correlates well with the severity of cervical lesions.
• P16INK4a testing may improve cervical cytology and HPV screening accuracy.
• This biomarker aids in predicting cervical disorder prognosis.