Objective: To analyze the expression and clinical values of HPV L1 capsid protein and p16INK4a protein in uterine cervical lesions.
Methods: Fifty-four cervical intraepithelial neoplasias CIN1, 44 CIN2, 78 CIN3, and 48 squamous cell carcinoma were included in this study. All CIN and squamous carcinomas were stained with anti-HPV L1 capsid protein antibodies and anti-p16INK4a antibody. Forty-five CIN1 patients were followed up for 6 years.
Results: Forty-five CIN1 patients were followed up for 6 years, among them 6 cases showed a progression (One case changed to CIN3, 5 cases to CIN2). L1 positivity was found in 50 cases which decreased with CIN increasing (χ(2) = 259.923, P < 0.001) while p16INK4a positivity was found in 177 cases which co-increased with CIN (χ(2) = 48.842, P < 0.001). L1(-)p16INK4a (-) or L1(+)p16INK4a(-) appeared mainly in CIN1 while L1(-)p16INK4a(+) appeared mainly in CIN2 lesions. No progression was found in the group of L1(-)p16INK4a(-) CIN1 patients. The risk of CIN1 progression in L1(-)p16INK4a(+) group was 66.7% while L1(+)p16INK4a(-) group was 9.5%, and L1(+)p16INK4a(+) group was 33.3%.
Conclusions: The expression of p16INK4a together with HPV L1 are different in various cervical lesions, and the combined detection of p16INK4a and HPV L1 can be helpful for estimating the biological potentiality of CIN lesions.