Abstract

PURPOSE
Though the etiology of this cancer has not been elucidated, it has been suggested that certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and alteration of the p53 gene are closely associated with uterine cervical cancer. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of high risk HPV, p53 and p21 gene in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III (CIN3) and invasive squamous cell carcinoma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The presence of high-risk HPV DNA (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 51, 52, 56) were detected from cervical swab in 240 patients by hybrid capture method. Expression of p53 genes were studied in paraffin-embedded specimens by immunohisto- chemical staining and p53, p21 gene alteration by RT-PCR SSCP using fresh cervical tissues.
RESULTS
High risk HPV DNA were detected in 34%, 74.3% and 75.7% in control, CIN3 and invasive squamaus cell carcinoma respectively. In patients with high risk HPV DNA, type 16 were detected of 5.9%, 30.8%, 47.2% respectively. Relative concentration of HPV DNA to control was 16.3+-27.4 in CIN3 and 30.4+-40.8 in invasive squamous cell cancer. Of patients with high risk HPV DNA, p53 expression was found in 42.9% of CIN3 immunohistochemically, while patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma was de- tected in 50%. In patients without high risk HPV DNA, p53 expression was detected in 17.1% in CIN3, 15.7% in invasive squamous cell carcinoma. But the mutation of p53 and p21 gene by RT-PCR SSCP were not observed in CIN3 and invasive squamous cell carcinoma.
CONCLUSION
These observations suggest that carcinogenesis of invasive squamous cell carcinoma from CIN3 may be concerned with high risk HPV concentration and may be occurred via another pathway without HPV and p53 or p21 mutation.

• Keywords: Human papillomavirus;Squamous cell carcinoma;p53 gene;p21 gene;Cervix neoplasm