EXPRESSION OF p16 IN ASCUS/ASCH SMEARS AND THEIR BIOPSIES.

Dr.Neha Tyagi; Dr.Anuradha Kusum; Dr. Dushyant Singh Gaur; Dr. Meena Harsh

Volume : V, Issue : IX, September - 2016

EXPRESSION OF p16 IN ASCUS/ASCH SMEARS AND THEIR BIOPSIES.

Dr. Neha Tyagi, Dr. Anuradha Kusum, Dr. Dushyant Singh Gaur, Dr. Meena Harsh

Abstract :

Introduction Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. Screening with Pap smear has dramatically reduced the incidence of cervical cancer despite its limitations. In recent years various biomarkers are used for efficient triage of mildly abnormal pap cytologic results. Most intensely studied marker is p16 protein which is overexpressed in dysplastic cervical lesions. Aims and objective To determine the pattern of epithelial cell abnormality on pap smear and the utility of p16 immunostaining for predicting CIN II in pap smear specimen with ASC–US /ASC–H and in their biopsies. Material and methods Standard techniques were used for processing and morphological study of pap smears over a 12 month period.Smears reported as ASCUS/ ASCH and their corresponding biopsies wherever available were immunostained with Monoclonal p16 antibody (Biogenex Limited).Scoring of p16 positive cells was done. Results The study included 515 pap smears with maximum cases in 31–40 years age group. Vaginal discharge was the most common complain and erosion seen in per speculum examination in maximum cases. NILM was found in 88.44% cases.ASCUS was the most common epithelial cell abnormality.p16 immunostain showed high grade positivity in biopsies of ASCH than ASCUS. Conclusion This study highlights that women aged 45 years or above harbour the bulk of premalignant and malignant lesions in pap smears probably because of lack of knowledge of screening programme. For mildly abnormal pap results, such as ASCUS/ASCH ,p16 immunostain may be useful for predicting CIN II. With increasing severity of CIN, p16 expression increased progressively