Keratins 8, 10, 13, and 17 are useful markers in the diagnosis of human cervix carcinomas.

Several candidate tumor markers for cervical neoplasia have been identified. Among those are keratin markers, whose precise implications in the diagnosis are still under debate. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the usefulness of studying the expression of keratins 8, 10, 13, and 17 for diagnostic purposes in human cervix carcinomas. Forty-four invasive squamous carcinomas, 10 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN III), and 10 reference cervix were examined immunohistochemically with monoclonal antibodies. Expression of keratins in reference exocervix, CIN III, and invasive carcinomas was as follows: keratin 8--0, 44.4%, and 57.1%, respectively; keratin 10-77.8%, 40%, and 19%, respectively; keratin 13--100%, 22.2%, and 25%, respectively; keratin 17-0, 40%, and 73.2%, respectively. In invasive carcinomas, expression of keratin 10 was significantly associated with keratinizing carcinomas. In conclusion, we observed that expression of keratins 8 and 17 and loss of keratins 10 and 13 are good markers of malignant transformation in human cervix. Keratin expression patterns, namely expression of keratin 10, can be useful for subtyping and grading squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix.

Characterization of human papillomavirus infection, P53 and Ki-67 expression in cervix cancer of Mozambican women.

In this study, we aimed at evaluating the distribution of HPV types and the expression of P53 and Ki-67 in cervix carcinomas of Mozambican women. Fourty-seven invasive carcinomas, 10 CIN III, and 10 normal cervix were studied. P53 and Ki-67 expression was examined immunohistochemically. HPV infection and HPV types were detected by PCR (GP5+/bio-GP6+) and enzyme-immunoassay, respectively. Expression of P53 and Ki-67 and detection of HPV were as follows: normal cervix--0%, 10%, and 0%, respectively; CIN III--10%, 0%, and 100%, respectively; invasive carcinomas--50%, 55.5%, and 70%, respectively. HPV 16 was identified in 54% of invasive carcinomas, HPV 31, 33, 35, and 45 in 23%, "unidentified" HPV in 19%, and HPV 18 in 4% of invasive carcinomas. No significant associations were observed between P53 expression, Ki-67 expression, and HPV infection. In conclusion, we observed a high frequency of HPV infection in CIN III lesions and invasive carcinomas from Mozambican women, with HPV 16 representing the most frequent viral type. HPV status was not related to P53 and Ki-67 expression. Both P53 and Ki-67 are associated with invasive cervix carcinomas, mainly of the squamous keratinizing histotype.