The Relationship between the Expression of Cytokeratins, Ki-67, and the Infection of Human Papillomavirus 16, 18 Type in the Carcinogenic Progression of the Uterine Cervical Epithelium

Sol, Eui Sok; Han, Chi Dong; Lee, Tee Sung; Koh, Suk Bong

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between the expression of cytokeratins, Ki-67 and the infection of human papillomavirus 16, 18 type in the carcinogenic progrssion of the uterine cervical epithelium.
METHODS
Investigation the expression patterns of CKs and Ki-67 monoclonal antibody, and compared them with the incidence of HPV infection in 120 patients including 30 cases of normal cervical epithelium, 30 cases of LSIL, 30 cases of HSIL and 30 cases of SCC, to possible relationship between them.
RESULTS
The expression of CK 14, and Ki-67 increased as the cervical lesions progressed from normal to SILs and SCC. In contrast, CK 13 is decreased as the cervical lesions progressed from normal to SILs and SCC. Statistical analysis revealed significant corelations between the CK 14 and spinal layer, between CK 13 and basal layer, between Ki-67 and all layers. HPV was detected in 16.7% of normal cervical tissue, 50.0% of LSIL, 70.0% of HSIL, 80.0% of SCC with PCR technique. The labelling indices of Ki-67 were significantly higher in HSIL than in normal cervical tissue and LSIL. The labelling indices were also higher in groups with positive reactions to CK 14, 13, and HPV than in groups with negative reactions to them.
CONCLUSION
It was postulated that examination of patterns of immunoreactivity of CK 14, 13, and Ki- 67 could be a useful and convenient tool to explain the trasition from normal cervical epithelium to SCC via LSIL and HSIL and thereby predict the differentiation potential of the studies for lesions.