Comparative evaluation of nm23 and p16 expression as biomarkers of HR-HPV infection and CIN2+ lesions of the uterine cervix

Maria Benevolo (1) , Irene Terrenato (2) , Marcella Mottolese (3) , Ferdinando Marandino (3) , Mariantonia Carosi (3) , Paola Muti (4) , Francesca Rollo (3) , Livia Ronchetti (3) , Luciano Mariani (5) , Giuseppe Vocaturo (5) , Amina Vocaturo (3)

1 Pathology
2 Epidemiology
3 Pathology
4 Scientific Direction
5 Oncologic Gynecology

Aims: to investigate the clinical role of nm23 expression in identifying both HR-HPV and high-grade cervical lesions or carcinomas (CIN2+), and compare it with p16 overexpression, as this latter biomarker has already been widely reported in HR-HPV infected cervical lesions. Methods: Immunohistochemical evaluation of nm23 and p16 in 143 cervical biopsies including negative, low- and high-grade lesions and squamous carcinomas (SC). HR-HPV testing by Digene HC2 and PCR, on the cervico-vaginal samples of the same patients. Results: In detecting CIN2+, p16 was significantly more sensitive and specific than nm23 (96.3% vs 81.8% and 66% vs 36.4% respectively, both p<0.0001). Concerning HR-HPV detection by HC2, p16 showed a significantly higher specificity than nm23 (82% vs 47%, p<0.0001), although the sensitivities were comparable (71% vs 76%). We found a significantly direct correlation between nm23 and HC2 findings. However, nm23 expression did not correlate with HPV16/18 infection. On the contrary, we observed a significant association between p16 overexpression and HPV 16/18 genotypes. Conclusions: We confirm the promising clinical role of p16 overexpression. Moreover, despite in vitro data regarding the interaction with the HPV-E7 protein, nm23 does not appear to be a more useful biomarker than p16 in identifying CIN2+ or HR-HPV infection.

Mots clés: Medicine

Maria Benevolo, Irene Terrenato, Marcella Mottolese, Ferdinando Marandino, Mariantonia Carosi, et al.. Comparative evaluation of nm23 and p16 expression as biomarkers of HR-HPV infection and CIN2+ lesions of the uterine cervix. Histopathology, 2010, 57 (4), pp.580. ⟨10.1111/j.1365-2559.2010.03674.x⟩. ⟨hal-00586994⟩