Study of CD31 IHC expression in dysplastic and malignant lesions of the cervix and its correlation to IHC expression of HPV (16E6 + 18E6)

Abstract

Background: Angiogenesis is necessary for invasion and metastasis of cervical carcinoma and is a crucial stage in controlling the course of malignancy. Microvasculature may be quantified by calculating Mean Microvessel Density (MVD) using CD31 Immunohistochemical (IHC) labeling of endothelial cells. E6 and E7 oncogenes of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) will inactivate p53 and pRb, respectively. This has been discovered to encourage angiogenesis by up-regulating vascular endothelial growth factor and down-regulating thrombospondin-1 during the early stages of carcinogenesis. Aim and Objectives: To assess the IHC expression of CD31 in cervical dysplasia and carcinomas and link these expressions with the IHC expression of HPV (16E6 + 18E6) and specific clinicopathological criteria, such as stage and grade of cervical carcinoma. Material and Methods: In a cross-sectional investigation, 52 cervical tissue samples were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded. On hematoxylin and eosin slides, the histological diagnoses were obtained. Samples were then stained immunohistochemically with monoclonal mouse antibodies, including anti-CD31 antibody and Anti-HPV (16E6 + 18E8) antibody. Results: Mean MVD rose significantly with increasing cervical lesion severity. In 78.1% of patients with invasive cervical carcinomas, HPV expression was detected, compared to 41.7% of cases with high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion and 37.5% of cases with low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion. Conclusion: HPV plays a crucial role in malignant transformation of the cervix, with a substantial positive association between a rise in MVD and expression of high-risk HPV types (16 and 18) in malignant and premalignant instances.

Keywords

• cd31 ihc
• microvessel density
• cervical carcinoma
• human papilloma virus
• angiogenesis