Application of Computational Method for Quantitative Analysis of Protein Expression of P16ink4a in Cervical Biopsies through Immunohistochemistry

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to standardize the quantification of protein expression of p16INK4a in cervical biopsies using computational method, and to compare it with methods used previously, as well as with HPV viral subtypes, aiming to establish an methodology for cervical biopsies. Material and Methods: Fifty-eight cases of Pap slides and cervical biopsies were selected. Then, immunohistochemistry for p16INK4a in cervical biopsies and quantitative analysis using the software Image J were performed. The interpretation was performed using the Richart system, German Scoring, and a qualitative method. A genotyping for HPV was performed. Results: A significant association between quantification by Image J software and Richart system, German Scoring System, and qualitative method (p <0.05, p <0.001) was observed. When comparing the results obtained with high and low risk viral subtypes, and negative samples, a proportional and significant association (p<0.001) was also observed; when comparing the results with the viral subtypes separately, a significant correlation between genotypes 16, 18, 33, 39, 52, 58, and 73 (p<0.05, p<0.001) was reported. Discussion: A proportional correlation of p16INK4a quantification and Richart, German Scoring, and qualitative method scores, as well as with different viral genotypes was observed. Currently, the evaluation systems show deficiencies due to diagnostic interor intrapersonal variations. We suggest that the quantification of p16INK4a in cervical biopsies by Image J software shows significant results for improving diagnostic techniques of cervical cancer, which may help in effectively choosing a clinical treatment without interor intrapersonal variations.