Marta del Pino

Prevalence and Vertical Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection among Pregnant Latin American Women Attending 2 Maternity Clinics in Barcelona, Spain

We performed a prospective screening for Trypanosoma cruzi infection in 1350 Latin American pregnant women and their offspring in Barcelona, Spain. The rate of seroprevalence was 3.4%, and 7.3% of the newborns were infected. Routine screening and management programs in maternity wards may be warranted.

Pathways of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma.

Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) accounts for >90% of the malignant tumours of the vulva. Most VSCCs originate in intraepithelial lesions, named vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), that precede the development of VSCC by a variable period of time. Strong evidence has accumulated showing that there are two different aetiopathogenic pathways for the development of VSCC and VIN, one associated with infection by human papillomavirus (HPV), and a second independent of HPV infection. These two different types of VSCC have different epidemiological, pathological and clinical characteristics, and should therefore be considered as two separate entities. Histologically, HPV‐associated VSCCs are of the basaloid or warty type, and arise from VIN of the usual type. Inactivation of p53 and the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor gene product by the viral gene products E6 and E7 is involved in the process of malignant transformation. HPV‐independent VSCCs are histologically keratinizing, are associated with differentiated VIN and lichen sclerosus, and frequently show mutations of p53. p16INK4a and p53 immunostaining can be useful for classifying VSCC into HPV‐associated or HPV‐independent. Although large, multicentre studies are needed to definitively assess the involvement of HPV in the prognosis of VSCC, most studies have not found clear differences in survival between HPV‐associated and HPV‐independent tumours.

Does human papillomavirus infection imply a different prognosis in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND Two independent pathways in the development of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) have been described, one related to and the other independent of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV). The aim of our study was to evaluate whether the HPV status has a prognostic significance or can predict response to radiotherapy. METHODS All VSCC diagnosed from 1995 to 2009 were retrospectively evaluated (n=98). HPV infection was detected by amplification of HPV DNA by PCR using SPF-10 primers and typed by the INNO-LIPA HPV research assay. p16(INK4a) expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. Disease-free and overall survival (DFS and OS) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis with the log-rank test and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS HR-HPV DNA was detected in 19.4% of patients. HPV16 was the most prevalent genotype (73.7% of cases). p16(INK4a) stained 100% HPV-positive and 1.3% HPV-negative tumors (p<.001). No differences were found between HPV-positive and -negative tumors in terms of either DFS (39.8% vs. 49.8% at 5 years; p=.831), or OS (67.2% vs. 71.4% at 5 years; p=.791). No differences in survival were observed between HPV-positive and -negative patients requiring radiotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] .45 to 2.41). FIGO stages III-IV (p=.002), lymph node metastasis (p=.030), size ≥ 20 mm (p=.023), invasion depth (p=.020) and ulceration (p=.032) were associated with increased mortality but in multivariated only lymph node metastasis retained the association (HR 13.28, 95% CI 1.19 to 148.61). CONCLUSIONS HPV-positive and -negative VSCCs have a similar prognosis. Radiotherapy does not increase survival in HPV-positive women.

Value of p16INK4a as a marker of progression/regression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of p16(INK4a) staining to classify cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 according to its progression/regression risk. STUDY DESIGN Patients with a histologic diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 were prospectively recruited (n = 138). Simultaneous detection of high-risk human papillomaviruses and p16(INK4a) evaluation were performed. Follow-up was conducted every 6 months by cytology and colposcopy and annually by high-risk human papillomavirus testing, for at least 12 months (mean, 29.0). Progression was defined as a histologic diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2-3, regression as a negative cytology and high-risk human papillomaviruses, and persistence as a cytologic result of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and/or a positive test for high-risk human papillomaviruses. RESULTS Progression was observed in 14 women (10.1%), 66 (47.6%) regressed, and 58 (42.0%) had a persistent disease. p16(INK4a) was positive in 77 (55.8%) initial biopsy specimens. Progression to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2-3 was identified in 14 of 77 (18.2%) women with positive and none of 61 (0.00%) women with negative p16(INK4a) immunostaining (P < .001). CONCLUSION p16(INK4a) negative cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 lesions rarely progress and may benefit from a less intensive follow-up.

p16INK4a Immunostaining Identifies Occult CIN Lesions in HPV-positive Women

To evaluate whether p16INK4a staining could help to recognize underestimated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in women positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) with negative biopsy. Out of 1,259 women undergoing a histologic study and a simultaneous HR-HPV detection using the Hybrid Capture 2 test, we selected all patients testing positive for HR-HPV and having a negative biopsy (n=139), as well as all women testing negative for HR-HPV with a biopsy of either CIN 1 (26 cases) or CIN 2 to 3 (11 cases). Of the remaining 1,083 women, we randomly selected for the purpose of controls, 50 cases negative for HR-HPV with negative biopsy and 100 cases positive for HR-HPV and with biopsy of CIN (50 CIN 1, 50 CIN 2–3). In all cases, immunohistochemical staining for p16INK4a and a second evaluation of the initial biopsy was carried out. Thirty-four out of 139 biopsies (24.5%) testing positive for HR-HPV but having a negative biopsy were positive for p16INK4a. Thirty of these cases (21.6%) were classified as harboring a CIN (11 CIN 1, 19 CIN 2/3) after reevaluation. Both the number of cases reclassified as CIN of any grade, or as CIN 2/3, were significantly higher for cases with HR-HPV load above 100 relative light unit (P<0.005). Particular attention should be paid to biopsies from patients having positive Hybrid Capture 2. The risk of harboring undetected CIN of any type or CIN 2/3 is significantly higher for patients with high HR-HPV load. Immunostaining with p16INK4a should be considered as a highly desirable addition to the histologic evaluation of cervical biopsy specimens in HR-HPV–positive women.

Combined laparoscopic surgery and pentoxifylline therapy for treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility: a preliminary trial

BACKGROUND Surgical treatment has modest efficacy for the treatment of infertility associated with early-stage endometriosis. Immunomodulation with pentoxifylline is considered as a new strategy potentially useful in treating endometriosis. Thus, this study investigated the usefulness of combined laparoscopic surgery and pentoxifylline therapy in the treatment of infertility associated with minimal to mild endometriosis. METHODS A prospective, randomized, controlled blind trial was conducted. Patients entered the study immediately after laparoscopic surgery and were randomly assigned to the treatment with either oral pentoxifylline (800 mg/day) (pentoxifylline group, n = 51) or an oral placebo (placebo group, n = 53). Patients were then observed for pregnancy for 6 months. RESULTS Among 98 patients finally considered in the evaluation of the results, the 6 month overall pregnancy rates were 28 and 14% in the pentoxifylline and placebo groups, respectively. Thus, an absolute difference of 14% (95% CI -2 to 30) (Chi-squared test, P = 0.1) in the cumulative probability of pregnancy in 6 months after laparoscopic surgery in patients receiving pentoxifylline versus placebo post-operatively was observed. CONCLUSION Our findings provide preliminary clinical evidence to suggest the new experimental treatment approaches, toward endometriosis, that are based on immunomodulation deserve further attention. Well-designed multicenter trials are warranted to confirm or refute our results.

Hpv-negative Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia (vin) With Basaloid Histologic Pattern: An Unrecognized Variant of Simplex (differentiated) Vin

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is classified into 2 clinicopathologic subtypes, classic, related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and affecting relatively young women, and simplex (differentiated), negative for HPV and affecting elderly women. Histologically, classic VIN may be basaloid and characterized by a replacement of the whole epidermis by a homogeneous population of small, “undifferentiated” keratinocytes, which are diffusely positive for p16INK4a and negative for p53. Simplex VIN is characterized by atypia of the basal layer with high degree of cellular differentiation and shows negative staining for p16INK4a and frequent positivity for p53. Simplex VIN is frequently associated with squamous cell hyperplasia and lichen sclerosus. From a series of 110 invasive squamous cell carcinomas of the vulva negative for HPV by highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction, 51 had VIN lesions located at least 1 cm away from the tumor. In 4 (7.8%) cases, the VIN had basaloid histologic features. All cases showed obvious architectural disorganization with a homogeneous population of basaloid, undifferentiated keratinocytes with scanty cytoplasm replacing the whole epidermis. Immunohistochemically, all cases were negative for p16INK4a and strongly positive for p53 with suprabasilar extension of positive cells. All patients were postmenopausal (median age 61.0 y; range, 45-76). Squamous cell hyperplasia was identified in 1 case and lichen sclerosus in 1 case. The invasive squamous cell carcinoma was of keratinizing type in 3 cases and basaloid in 1 case. In conclusion, simplex, HPV-negative VIN may occasionally have basaloid morphology. Immunostaining for p16INK4a and p53 protein may be helpful in the identification of these lesions and the differential diagnosis with classic, HPV-positive basaloid VIN.

High-risk human papillomavirus is transcriptionally active in a subset of sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas.

It has been reported that high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is a causative agent of a subgroup of oropharyngeal carcinomas. In these tumors, the presence of the transcriptionally active HPV has been proved through the identification of HPV E6 or E7 messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts. The aim of the study was to assess the HPV-active transcription in a series of sinonasal carcinomas, in correlation with the HPV DNA identification and the p16 immunohistochemistry. Seventy patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the sinonasal tract were included in the survey. The main clinicopathological characteristics were recorded. All tumors were investigated for HPV through the HPV DNA detection by PCR, using the SPF10 primers and by in situ hybridization, using the high-risk GenPoint probe (Dako, Glostrup, Denmark). HPV16 E7 mRNA transcripts detection was performed by RT-PCR in 27 cases. The immunostaining for p16 was performed in all cases. Fourteen carcinomas (20%) were positive for high-risk HPV by PCR: 13 HPV16 and one HPV35. In situ hybridization showed a dotted nuclear positivity in all these cases. HPV16 E7 mRNA was detected in seven tumors harboring HPV16; in the remaining HPV-positive cases, RNA did not reach the quality for analysis. Strong, diffuse positivity for p16 was observed only in the HPV-positive cases. The 14 HPV-positive squamous cell carcinomas were non-keratinizing or scarcely keratinizing tumors. No significant differences were found in terms of gender, age, or staging at diagnosis between HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumors. However, differences in disease-free survival and overall survival between both groups of patients were significant (P=0.004 and P=0.028, respectively). In conclusion, we have shown that HPV is the etiological agent of a subset of sinonasal carcinomas demonstrating the transcriptionally active HPV in these tumors. Immunostaining for p16 can be used as a surrogate marker to identify these tumors.

Usefulness of p16/Ki67 immunostaining in the triage of women referred to colposcopy.

This study compared the performance of p16/Ki67 dual‐staining and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in women referred to colposcopy and sought to determine the usefulness of a morphological evaluation of the double‐stained cells.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina: human papillomavirus detection, p16INK4A overexpression and clinicopathological correlations

Fuste V, del Pino M, Perez A, Garcia A, Torne A, Pahisa J & Ordi J
(2010) Histopathology57, 907–916