"Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Vagina: HPV Detection, p16INK4A Overexpression and Clinicopathological Correlations"

Victoria Fuste (1) , Marta del Pino (2) , Assumpta Perez (3) , Angel Garcia (4) , Aureli Torne (2) , Jaume Pahisa (2) , Jaume Ordi (1)

1 Pathology
2 Obstetrics and Gynaecology
3 Pathology
4 Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Aim: To determine the role of HPV in the pathogenesis of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina (SCCVa), and to evaluate its clinico-pathological significance. Methods: All cases of SCCVa diagnosed over a 15 year period from two hospitals in Barcelona, Spain (n=32) were retrieved. Patients with a history of carcinoma of the cervix diagnosed less than 5 years before were excluded. HPV was detected and typed by PCR using the SPF10 primers. Immunohistochemistry for p16 and p53 was performed. Results: HPV was detected in 25 cases (78.1%). HPV16 was the most prevalent type. Patients with HPV-positive tumours were frequently associated with a history of carcinoma or intraepithelial neoplasia of the cervix or vulva diagnosed more than 5 years before (56% vs. 0%; p=0.01). HPV-positive tumours were more frequently of non-keratinizing, basaloid or warty type than HPV-negative neoplasms (84% vs. 14.3%; p<0.001), and almost constantly showed diffuse positive staining for p16INK4a (96%, vs. 14.3%; p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of p16 to identify HPV-positive tumours were 96% and 85.7% respectively. Conclusions: A high number of SCCVs are related to HPV infection and may be identified by immunostaining for p16. HPV-positive tumours tend to affect women with history of cervical neoplasm.

Mots clés: Medicine

Victoria Fuste, Marta del Pino, Assumpta Perez, Angel Garcia, Aureli Torne, et al.. "Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Vagina: HPV Detection, p16INK4A Overexpression and Clinicopathological Correlations". Histopathology, 2010, 57 (6), pp.907. ⟨10.1111/j.1365-2559.2010.03727.x⟩. ⟨hal-00601179⟩