Screening for Human Papillomavirus in Basaloid Squamous Carcinoma: Utility of p16^INK4a, CISH, and PCR

Abstract

This study compares p16( INK4a) immunohistochemistry (IHC), HPV chromogenic in situ hybridization (ISH), and HPV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping for detection of HPV infection in basaloid squamous carcinoma (BSCC). A retrospective histopathological analysis of 40 BSCC from a single institution was carried out. p16 IHC, HPV DNA extraction and ISH, and HPV PCR genotyping were performed, and there was excellent agreement between all 3 methods of HPV detection. Analysis of variance yielded no significant differences between the results of the 3 tests ( P = .354) and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients calculated for each pair of tests demonstrated direct correlation (r = .61 for PCR and IHC, r = .61 for PCR and ISH, and r = 1.00 for ISH and IHC). This supports the use of p16(INK4a) IHC as an initial screening tool for HPV infection in BSCC, while definitive evidence of HPV DNA can be sought subsequently with PCR or CISH.

Evaluation of human papillomavirus (HPV) prediction using the International Endocervical Adenocarcinoma Criteria and Classification system, compared to p16 immunohistochemistry and HPV RNA in-situ hybridization

“…In most laboratories, p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the most frequently used surrogate marker for high-risk HPV infection. However, while the use of p16 IHC as a surrogate marker for HPV RISH has been examined in multiple squamous neoplasms of the uterine cervix, head and neck, penis and anus, few studies have actually assessed its performance in glandular neoplasms, particularly of the uterine cervix [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Moreover, in some recent studies, cervical gastric-type adenocarcinomas, a NHPVA tumor, actually showed diffuse p16 IHC staining, which is a potential pitfall for pathologists [28][29][30].…”