Immunohistochemical Expression of Apoptosis Regulators in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix and Their Association with Human Papillomavirus 16/18 Subtypes

Year 2014, Volume: 31 Issue: 3, 0 - 0, 01.07.2014

Hossein Ayatollahi Nourieh Sharifi Mohammad Hadi Sadeghian Anita Alenabi Hamid Reza Ghasemian-moghadam

Abstract

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an important aetiological factor in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix. Limited studies have been focused on the differences between
carcinogenesis of SCCs with and without HPV infection.
Aims: The main goal of this study is to determine the expression of
some of the apoptotic pathway regulators, including P53, Bax and
Bcl2 in SCCs with and without high risk HPV 16/18 infection.
Study Design: Cross sectional study.
Methods: A total of 42 paraffin-embedded blocks with the histopathological diagnosis of invasive SCC with determined HPV 16/18
status were selected; half of them were HPV positive and the rest
were negative. Afterwards, immunohistochemistry stained slides for
p53, Bcl2 and Bax were evaluated with H-score, multiplicative and
Additive Quick score by two pathologists; in cases of controversy
about the results, the mean results were recorded.
Results: Mean results and percentage of expression of our three
markers were significantly higher in the HPV 16/18 infected group
than in uninfected individuals: Respectively, the mean score for Bcl2,
Bax and p53 staining according to H-scoring method was 68.5, 234,
106.4 in the HPV 16/18 infected group and 4.5, 218.8, 5.07 in the
uninfected group; and the Multiplicative Quick score was 4, 14.6, 8.2
in the HPV 16/18 infected group and 3, 12.3, 3.5 in the uninfected
group.
Conclusion: High risk HPVs possibly act in favour of apoptotic
pathway inactivation. The significant difference in apoptotic pathway between SCCs with and without high risk HPVs suggests a different early carcinogenesis pathway.
(Balkan Med J 2014;31:202-7)

Keywords

Bax, Bcl2, cervix, human papilloma virus, p53, squamous cell carcinoma

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