Combination of p16INK4a/Ki67 immunocytology and hpv polymerase chain reaction for the noninvasive analysis of HPV involvement in head and neck cancer. Issue 4 (29th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Linxweiler, Maximilian; Bochen, Florian; Wemmert, Silke; Lerner, Cornelia; Hasenfus, Andrea; Bohle, Rainer Maria; Al‐Kadah, Basel; Takacs, Zoltan Ferenc; Smola, Sigrun; Schick, Bernhard
• Is Part Of: Cancer cytopathology. Volume 123:Issue 4(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 219
• Page End: 229
• Publication Date: 2014-12-29
• Subjects: Cancer -- Cytopathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Cellular -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Technique -- Periodicals; 611.01815
• DOI: 10.1002/cncy.21512
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1934-662X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="cncy21512-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p>High‐risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been identified as a relevant risk for the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). As HPV status has also gained a role as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for this entity, there is a growing demand for valid HPV testing in HNSCC patients</p> </sec> <sec id="cncy21512-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>METHODS</title> <p>Liquid‐based cytological smears from 45 HNSCC and 20 control patients were collected and used for simultaneous immunocytochemical p16<sup>INK4a</sup>/Ki67 staining using a CINtec PLUS kit after the presence of tumor cells was verified in a Papanicolaou‐stained slide. The same cytological suspension was used for the detection of HPV DNA by specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR).</p> </sec> <sec id="cncy21512-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p>Tumor cells were detected in the swab material of 44 HNSCC patients corresponding to a sensitivity of 98% (44 of 45). PCR analysis revealed the presence of HPV DNA in the cytological suspension of 13 patients (13 of 65, 20%) with simultaneous p16<sup>INK4a</sup>/Ki67 expression by the tumor cells in 11 of these HPV DNA–positive samples (11 of 13, 85%) — a staining pattern that is strongly associated with a carcinogenic HPV infection.</p> </sec> <sec id="cncy21512-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> <p>A simultaneous immunocytochemical detection of p16<sup>INK4a</sup> and Ki67 can reliably be performed on liquid‐based cytological smears from HNSCC patients using a CINtec PLUS kit. In addition, the same cytological material can be used for the detection of HPV DNA by specific PCR. The combined results of both techniques enable better discrimination between latent and carcinogenic HPV infections as well as HPV‐negative cases and thus can provide information on the prognosis of HNSCC patients and facilitate therapeutic decisions. <bold><italic>Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol)</italic> 2015;123:219–229.</bold> © <italic>2014 American Cancer Society.</italic></p> </sec> </abstract>