Correlation of p16INK4A overexpression with human papillomavirus infection in cervical adenocarcinomas

As human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and overexpression of p16(INK4a) occurs when retinoblastoma. protein is inactivated by high-risk HPV, the authors studied the association of HPV infection and expression of p16(INK4a) in cervical adenocarcinomas. Specimens of cervical glandular neoplasias were immunostained with a p16(INK4a)- specific monoclonal antibody (clone E6H4). Approximately 80% of glandular neoplasms showed overexpression of p16(INK4a). Exfoliated cells from 14 adenocarcinomas were further examined by p16(INK4a)-specific immunocytochemistry, and 12 cases showed overexpression of p16(INK4a), suggesting that immunostaining for p16(INK4a) may be a useful diagnostic tool for cervical adenocarcinomas. The authors further examined HPV DNA in cervical adenocarcinomas with the polymerase chain reaction method. Overexpression of p16(INK4a) was positive in 94% of cases in which HPV16 or 18DNA was positive, a finding suggesting that HPV16 or 18 may play an important role in cervical adenocarcinomas. Overexpression of p16(INK4a) may be an indicator of pathogenic activity of high-risk HPVs.