Background: Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide with current knowledge showing rising trends of adenocarcinoma over Squamous cell carcinoma. They are more aggressive with relatively worse prognosis. Thus, to improve the overall disease free duration, a novel diagnostic and therapeutic immunomarker is required. The present study aims to evaluate the significance of p16 and HER-2/neu expression in patients of adenocarcinoma cervix.

Material and Methods: A Prospective study on 33 cases of adenocarcinoma cervix diagnosed on resected specimens as well as core biopsies was conducted from January 2019 to December 2019. All relevant clinical data was retrieved from Institute’s electronic medical record system. Histopathological examination and Immunohistochemistry using p16 and HER-2/neu antibodies were performed on all formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues.

Results: A total of 33 cases of adenocarcinoma cervix were observed in the present study. Positive p16 expression with variable intensity was noted in all the cases. HER-2/neu was strongly expressed in only 4 cases (12%) of Adenocarcinoma cervix. However, positivity was associated with all cases showing parametrial extension and all these cases were histologically diagnosed as high grade. Although statistically significant correlation between HER-2/neu expression, stage of tumor, presence of lympho-vascular invasion and nodal metastasis could not be established but cases with high grade of the tumor and parametrial extension did show strong immunoreactivity with HER-2/neu oncoprotein.

Conclusion: To conclude, p16 positivity was observed in all cases of adenocarcinoma cervix but role of Her2/neu is still debatable and needs further studies with larger sample size to establish its significance.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma cervix; p16; HER-2/neu; Prognosis.

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Dr Prakriti Shukla

Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India