Annals of Tropical Pathology

REVIEW ARTICLE
Year
: 2017  |  Volume : 8  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 1--4

The role of biomarkers (p16INK4a and Ki-67) in cervical cancer screening: An appraisal


Saad A Ahmed1, Darlington E Obaseki2, Ahmed A Mayun3, Aliyu Mohammed4, Abdulmumini H Rafindadi1, Mohammed A Abdul5 
1 Department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria
2 Department of Pathology, University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria
3 Department of Histopathology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
4 Department of Human Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria
5 Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Prof. Saad A Ahmed
Department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria
Nigeria

Cervical cancer is a common and important public health problem in developing countries. Even though many developed countries have achieved significant successes in reducing invasive cervical cancer burden, the burden in developing countries is still worrisome. Currently, cervical examinations and Papanicolaou (Pap) tests remain the screening method of choice for most women in many parts of Africa. Molecular diagnostic tests for human papillomavirus (HPV) can augment screening for cervical cancer when used in conjunction with the Pap smear. Due to the inherent limitations of morphologic interpretation and borderline cases, the atypical squamous cells (Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance [ASCUS] and Atypical Squamous Cells cannot rule out High Grade [ASC-H]) were introduced and this led to significant colposcopic follow-up and/or treatment of these women. p16INK4a is an efficient triage method; the dual staining with Ki-67 was introduced mainly to increase reproducibility and specificity compared with stand-alone p16INK4a staining. Diffuse p16INK4a immunostaining is the hallmark of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions regardless of HPV status.


How to cite this article:
Ahmed SA, Obaseki DE, Mayun AA, Mohammed A, Rafindadi AH, Abdul MA. The role of biomarkers (p16INK4a and Ki-67) in cervical cancer screening: An appraisal.Ann Trop Pathol 2017;8:1-4


How to cite this URL:
Ahmed SA, Obaseki DE, Mayun AA, Mohammed A, Rafindadi AH, Abdul MA. The role of biomarkers (p16INK4a and Ki-67) in cervical cancer screening: An appraisal. Ann Trop Pathol [serial online] 2017 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];8:1-4
Available from: https://www.atpjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2251-0060;year=2017;volume=8;issue=1;spage=1;epage=4;aulast=Ahmed;type=0