p16(INK4a) expression analysis as an ancillary tool for cytologic diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma

• Published in: American journal of clinical pathology 2009-11, Vol.132 (5), p.776-784
• Main Authors: Nakazawa, Kumiko, Murata, Shin-ichi, Yuminamochi, Tsutomu, Ishii, Yoshio, Ohno, Shikine, Nakazawa, Tadao, Kondo, Tetsuo, Katoh, Ryohei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell - pathology; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 - biosynthesis; Cytological Techniques; Female; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - metabolism; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 1943-7722
• DOI: 10.1309/AJCP61KNVHJVHAFN

We immunochemically studied p16(INK4a) expression in 116 urine cytologic samples and compared results with 190 histologic samples. The cytologic samples were classified into 4 groups: 1, mild cellular atypia; 2, moderate cellular atypia; 3, severe cellular atypia; and 4, malignancy. Overexpression of p16(INK4a) was detected in none of 32 cases in group 1, 8 (16%) of 50 cases in group 2, 5 (42%) of 12 cases in group 3, and 11 (50%) of 22 cases in group 4. In addition, by histologic analysis, p16(INK4a) overexpression was not detected in nonneoplastic urothelium, except for a few cases of reactive atypia, but it was detected in about 50% of urothelial carcinomas. In particular, a high incidence (16/20 [80%]) of p16(INK4a) overexpression in high-grade carcinomas was noted in cytologic samples. Immunocytologic analysis of p16(INK4a) expression in cytologic samples is a useful ancillary tool for detection of urothelial carcinoma with infiltrating potential.