OBJECTIVE: The overexpression of p16(INK4A) is induced by human papillomavirus (HPV) and associated with the carcinogenesis of cervical epithelia. So, immunostaining of p16(INK4A) may be useful biomarker in detecting CIN of cervix uteri in abnormal cervical lesions. The potential of p16(INK4A) as a biomarker for Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) examined in liquid-based specimens. METHODS: We collected samples 30 cases of ASCUS in Thinprep(TM) smears between March 2003 and August 2003. 23 control Thinprep(TM) cases were included; 10 negative for intraepithelial lesions, 13 cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions. p16(INK4A) immunochemial staining was performed on 53samples. At the same time, we tested another cervical swabs of patients by the Hybrid Capture II(TM) test. The cut off value was scored positive if it contained above 5 abnormal cells with nuclear and cytoplasmic immunostaining. RESULTS: The results of p16(INK4A) immunochemial staining comparing with one of HC II(TM) showed negative results with low kappa coefficient of 0.034. The sensitivity of p16(INK4A) immunochemial staining were 30.8% and the specificity were 82.4% respectively (p<0.01). p16(INK4A) is a useful marker for the detection of the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia but is not ASCUS. CONCLUSION: Immunostaining of p16(INK4A) is not useful triage test in detecting abnormal lesion of ASCUS in liquid-based specimens.
Carcinogenesis ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Cervix Uteri ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16* ; Cytoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Triage

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the difference and the positivity rate between Preserv Cyt(TM) solution of Thin-Prep(TM) Pap test and Cervical Sampler(TM) of Hybrid Capture II for detecting HPV DNA. METHODS: We collected samples of the cervix by using Preserv Cyt(TM) solution of Thin-Prep(TM) Pap test and a Cervical Sampler(TM) of Hybrid Capture II from ninety one women who screened for cervical carcinoma and precancerous cervical lesions between January 2003 and March 2003. At the same time, we tested the sample using the Preserv Cyt(TM) solution left over with a sample conversion kit. The cut off value for positive test result was above 1 pg/mL. RESULTS: The results of comparing the test using the Preserv Cyt(TM) solution of Thin-Prep(TM) Pap test with the one using Cervical Sampler(TM) showed negative results and 34 patients showed positive results with a significant high kappa coefficient of 0.674. The HPV titer of <1 were considered negative, while the HPV titer of 1 were considered positive. The positive HPV titer results were then subdivided into values of 1-10 and >10. Agreement rates of Preserv Cyt(TM) solution according to the HPV titer of Cervical Sampler(TM) were as follows: 97.7% in values below 1, 96.8% in values above 10, but 17.6% in values 1 to 10. So, the agreement rate was low between Cervical Sampler(TM) and Preserv Cyt(TM) solution in low value of HPV of Cervical Sampler(TM). CONCLUSION: Comparing the test using Preserv Cyt(TM) solution with Cervical Sampler(TM), there was a high correspondence and the Preserv Cyt(TM) solution was facilitated to detection for HPV at a time.
Cervix Uteri ; DNA* ; Female ; Humans*