p53 and p16 expression profiles in vulvar cancer: a translational analysis by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynakologische Onkologie Chemo and Radiotherapy in Epithelial Vulvar Cancer study group

Woelber, Linn; Prieske, Katharina; Eulenburg, Christine; Oliveira-Ferrer, Leticia; de Gregorio, Nikolaus; Klapdor, Ruediger; Kalder, Matthias; Braicu, Iona; Fuerst, Sophie; Klar, Maximilian; Strauss, Hans-Georg; Beckmann, Matthias; Meier, Werner; Ignatov, Atanas; Mustea, Alexander; Jueckstock, Julia; Schmidt, Georg; Bauerschlag, Dirk; Hellriegel, Martin; Canzler, Ulrich; Petry, Karl Ulrich; Kommoss, Stefan; Hantschmann, Peer; Heubner, Martin; Mahner, Sven und Burandt, Eike (2021): p53 and p16 expression profiles in vulvar cancer: a translational analysis by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynakologische Onkologie Chemo and Radiotherapy in Epithelial Vulvar Cancer study group. In: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bd. 224, Nr. 6, 595.e1-e11

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There are 2 known pathways for tumorigenesis of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma-a human papillomavirus-dependent pathway characterized by p16 overexpression and a human papillomavirus-independent pathway linked to lichen sclerosus, characterized by TP53 mutation. A correlation of human papillomavirus dependency with a favorable prognosis has been proposed. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to further understand the role of human papillomavirus and p53 status in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma and characterize its clinical relevance. STUDY DESIGN: The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynaecological Oncology Chemo and Radiotherapy in Epithelial Vulvar Cancer-1 study is a retrospective cohort study of 1618 patients with primary vulvar squamous cell carcinoma Federation Internationale de Gynecologie et d'Obstetrique stage >= 1B treated at 29 gynecologic cancer centers in Germany between 1998 and 2008. For this translational substudy, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue was collected. A tissue microarray was constructed (n=652 samples);p16 and p53 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. Human papillomavirus status and subtype were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: p16 immunohistochemistry was positive in 166 of 550 tumors (30.2%);p53 staining in 187 of 597 tumors (31.3%). Only tumors with available information regarding p16 and p53 immunohistochemistry and without p53 silent expression pattern were further analyzed (n=411);3 groups were defined: p53+ (n=163), p16+/p53- (n=132), and p16-/p53- (n=116). Human papillomavirus DNA was detected in 85.6% of p16+/p53- tumors;human papillomavirus-16 was the most common subtype (86.3%). Patients with p16+ tumors were younger (64 vs 72 years for p53+, respectively, 69 years for p16-/p53- tumors;P<.0001) and showed lower rates of lymph-node involvement (28.0% vs 42.3% for p53+, respectively, 30.2% for p16-/p53- tumors;P=.050). Notably, 2-year-disease-free and overall survival rates were significantly different among the groups: disease-free survival, 47.1% (p53+), 60.2% (p16-/p53-), and 63.9% (p16+/p53-) (P<.001);overall survival, 70.4% (p53+), 75.4% (p16-/p53-), and 82.5% (p16+/p53-) (P=.002). In multivariate analysis, the p16+/p53- phenotype showed a consistently improved prognosis compared with the other groups (hazard ratio, 0.66;95% confidence interval, 0.44-0.99;P=.042). CONCLUSION: p16 overexpression is associated with an improved prognosis whereas p53 positivity is linked to an adverse outcome. Our data support the hypothesis of a clinically relevant third subgroup of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma with a p53-/p16- phenotype showing an intermediate prognosis that needs to be further characterized.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Medizin
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• ISSN: 0002-9378
• Sprache: Englisch