Actually, despite of the serious progress achieved in prevention and recognition, cervical cancer and its precursor lesions remain an important diagnostic quizz in gynecopathology. In our study we assessed the coexpression of p16/Ki-67 in precancerous and malignant epithelial lesions in order to establish a correct diagnosis. We compared our immunohistochemistry results with those obtained with standard HE stain. Calculating the reaction specificity and sensitivity we have observed a strong correlation between the grade of dysplasia and p16/Ki-67 coexpression, which proved to be useful in differentiation of reactive atypia and dysplasia and correct grading of the dysplasia. Lack of p16/Ki67 immunostaning characterizes reactive changes, the focal or band-like staining present in cervical epithelia defines precisely the grade of dysplasia. Intense nuclear expression of p16 protein indicates the presence of high-risk HPV infection.
Keywords: p16, Ki-67, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), human papilloma virus (HPV)