Utility of p16/Ki67 double immunocytochemistry for detection of cervical adenocarcinoma

Although the incidence of cervical adenocarcinoma has consistently increased, especially among young women, there is no established best means for screening. This study evaluated the screening efficacy of CINtec PLUS (CINtec; p16/Ki67 double immunocytochemistry) expression in cervical glandular cells.

Cervical cytology was examined using abnormal glandular cells. The CINtec status of 100 samples with corresponding surgically resected specimens and 11 samples that exhibited negative results for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy at follow-up was analyzed. Additionally, 31 negative samples containing benign glandular cells were included.

Of the 142 samples, CINtec status was diffusely positive in 74, focally positive in 24, and negative in 44. The 74 diffusely positive samples included 70 adenocarcinomas (62 cervical, seven uterine, and one ovarian) and four cases of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The 24 focally positive samples included 15 adenocarcinomas (seven cervical, seven uterine, and one fallopian tube) and nine without malignancy. The 44 negative samples included nine adenocarcinomas (five uterine and four cervical) and 35 without malignancy. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the CINtec diffusely or focally positive cases for cervical adenocarcinomas were 94.5%, 58.0%, 70.4%, and 90.9%, respectively. In CINtec diffusely positive cases, the respective values were 84.9%, 82.6%, 83.8%, and 83.8%, and in women aged ≤39 years the values were 90.6%, 89.5%, 93.5%, and 85.0%, respectively.

CINtec may support efficient detection of cervical adenocarcinomas.