Submit a formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue block

Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue block

FFPE tissue section mounted on a charged, unstained slide

Ambient (preferred)

• Unlabeled/mislabeled block
• Insufficient tissue
• Slides broken beyond repair

Immunohistochemical staining and microscopic examination

If requested, an interpretive report will be provided

Specifications

• p16 (ink4) is a cell cycle associated protein which inhibits cyclin-dependent kinases by blocking substrate phosphorylation of the tumor suppressor retinoblastoma protein (Rb) and Rb related proteins p107 and p130 (thus interfering with the cell cycle)
• The gene that codes for p16 (CDKN2 gene) is mutated in a high percentage of tumors (including 75% of melanomas, as well as other cancers including breast and pancreas)
• The functional inactivation of p16 (as by HPV related infections in cervical lesions) is thought to lead to over-expression of this protein (and loss of its cell-cycle inhibitory effect)

Staining pattern

• Cytoplasmic, with some nuclear staining also observed
• Staining in cervical neoplasia has been graded as¹:
  • Positive - continuous staining the horizontal plane, either partial or full thickness
  • Focal positive - less than 80% staining in an interrupted plane
  • Negative - weakly diffuse staining characterized by a "blush"

References

1. Keating JT et al: Ki-67, Cyclin E and p16 are complimentary surrogate bio-markers for HPV-related cervical neoplasia. Am J Surg Pathol 25(7): 884-891, 2001.
2. Sano T et al: Expression status of p16 protein is associated with HPV oncogenic potential in cervical and genital lesions. Am J Pathol 1998; 153:1741-8, 1998.
3. Hirama T et al: p16 gene is not altered in uterine cervical carcinomas or cell lines. Mod Pathol 1996; 9:26-31.
4. Milde-Langosch K et al: Expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p16 etc. in HPV positive and HPV negative cervical adenocarcinoma. Virchows Arch (2001) 439; 55-61.
5. Klaes R et al: Over-expression of p16 as a specific marker for dysplastic and neoplastic epithelial cells of the cervix uteri. Int J Cancer: 92, 276-284 (2001).
6. Keating JT et al: Surrogate bio-markers of HPV infection in cervical neoplasia screening and diagnosis. Adv Anat Pathol, vol 8, no 2, 83-92, 2001.
7. Negri G, et al: P16 is a useful marker for the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the cervix uteri and its precursors; an immunohistochemical study with immunocytochemical correlations, Am J Surg Pathol 27 (2): 187-193, 2003.
8. Kong CS et al: p16 immunohistochemistry is superior to HPV in situ hybridization for the detection of high-risk PHPV in atypical squamous metaplasia. Am J Surg Pathol 2007; 31:33-43).