Stathmin is a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. Issue 12 (25th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nooij, Linda S; Dreef, Enno J; Smit, Vincent T H B M; van Poelgeest, Mariëtte I E; Bosse, Tjalling
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 69:Issue 12(2016)
• Page Start: 1070
• Page End: 1075
• Publication Date: 2016-05-25
• Subjects: GYNAECOLOGICAL PATHOLOGY -- IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY -- HPV; Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2016-203676
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

Abstract : Aims: Differentiating between human papilloma virus-dependent vulvar low-grade and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs and HSILs) remains difficult in selected cases. Stathmin, a protein involved in cell cycle progression, might be a useful additional marker for this differentiation. The aim of this study was to investigate the additional diagnostic value of stathmin expression in vulvar intraepithelial neoplastic (VIN) lesions. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis was used to evaluate stathmin, P16 and Ki67 expression in 91 samples, including LSILs (n=16), HSILs (n=50), differentiated VIN (dVIN; n=10), lichen sclerosis (LS; n=10) and normal vulvar tissue (n=5). Results: Stathmin was expressed in more than one-third of the epithelium in all HSILs and in 20% of LSILs. P16 and Ki67 were expressed in more than one-third of the epithelium in 94% of HSILs and in 13% and 40% of LSILs, respectively. Stathmin was expressed in more than one-third of the epithelium in 10% of the dVIN and in none of the LS or normal lesions. P16 and Ki67 expression was not present in more than one-third of the epithelium in any of these lesions. The sensitivity of stathmin for differentiating between LSILs and HSILs was 100% compared with a sensitivity of 94% for both p16 and Ki67. The specificity of stathmin, p16 and Ki67 was 80%, 87% and 60%, respectively. Conclusions: Stathmin is a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for the diagnosis of vulvar HSIL. In addition to the more commonly used immunohistochemical markers p16 and Ki67, stathmin can be a useful diagnostic tool for identifying HSILs, especially in cases in which differentiating between LSIL and HSIL is difficult.