Different Expression of p16INK4a and p14ARF in cervical and lung cancers

J.-g. Li, L. Li, S.-W. Zhang

Center of Reproductive Medicine, General Hospital of Beijing PLA Military Region, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China. cqlili2011@163.com

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• Oncology

AIM: This study aimed to assess clinical significance of expression of p16INK4a and p14ARF proteins in cervical and lung cancers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expression of these proteins was examined in 50 cervical cancer specimens (42 hr-HPV-associated cervical cancer and 8 non-hr-HPV-associated cervical cancer) and 127 lung cancer specimens (34 squamous cell carcinomas, 33 adenocarcinomas, 36 bronchioloalveolar carcinomas, and 24 small cell lung cancers) by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Overexpression of both p16INK4a and p14ARF was found in 100% cervical cancer specimens and in, respectively, 61.42% and 30.79% of lung cancer specimens. Thus, expression ratio of p16INK4a and p14ARF was significantly higher in cervical cancer than in lung cancer (p < 0.01). Both proteins were unexpressed in 38 lung cancer specimens (29.92%), and there was no correlation between the expressions of these proteins.

CONCLUSIONS: Different patterns of p16INK4a and p14ARF expression in cervical and lung cancer patients suggest different involvement of these proteins in the development of either cancer type. We propose p16INK4a and p14ARF as biomarkers in clinical assessment for cervical cancer.

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