AS BIOMARKERS FOR THE IMPROVED DIAGNOSIS OF CERVICAL INTRAEPITHELIAL LESION

The purpose of this paper was to explore the immunohistochemistry (IHC) results fora cocktailofminichromosomemaintenanceprotein2(MCM2)andtopoisomerase II α (TOP2A), p16 INK4a and Ki-67 as biomarkers for the diagnosis of cervical in traepithelial neoplasia (CIN), improving the routine interpretation of cervical histopathology.133casesofCINwerecollectedfromthearchivaldata.Allroutine hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained slides of the subjects were re-examined inde pendently by three senior pathologists, to provide a “consensus diagnosis”. Im munohistochemistry for the three biomarkers was performed, and the results were reviewedindependentlyofthecorrespondingarchivaldiagnosistomakea “diagnosis assistedbyIHC”bytheoriginalpathologicalpractitioners.Thediagnosisaccordance rateofthearchivaloriginaldiagnosiswiththe“consensusdiagnosis”andthe“diagnosis assistedbyIHC”withthe“consensusdiagnosis”wereverifiedbyFisher’sexacttest. The results showed that raw agreement between the original HE diagnosis and the “consensus diagnosis” was 88.55%, and raw agreement between the “diagnosis as sisted by IHC” and the “consensus diagnosis” was 95.78%. The latter was signifi cantlyhigherthantheformer(Fisher’sexacttest,p=0.023).Inconclusion,thethree biomarkers had a high degree of sensitivity and specificity, and appear to be a use ful and reliable diagnostic adjunct to improve the routine diagnosis, and reduce in ter-observer variability in cervical biopsy specimens.