p16INK4a/ki-67 Dual Immunostaining in Liquid-Based Vaginal Citology. Pilot Proof of Diagnostic Complement

Objective: Apply in a pilot study tests that show the deregulation of the cell cycle and therefore the progression to cancer, as is the case of the studies with p16 and ki-67; as a complement in the study of the evolution of the lesions reported as squamous atypia (ASC-US, LSIL, and HSIL) in cytological outlines. Methods: An observational analytical study was carried out with liquid-based cytology, which was supplemented with immunocytochemistry, biopsy, endocervical brushing and colposcopy in positive cases. Results: Of the 51 Pap smears studied, 35 (68.6%) were classified as negative and 16 (31.3%) with atypia, which were classified as: ASCU-US (n=8); LSIL (n=7) and HSIL (n=1). Among those 16 positive cases, the immunocytochemical test was positive for 3 of the 7 LSIL and for the case reported as HSIL. The 8 cases reported as ASC-US were negative for biomarkers. Conclusion: In this study based on 51 patients, four were detected with deregulated cellular cycle by immunoreactivity to dual p16/ki67; 3 cases were classified as LSIL and one case as HSIL. Biomarkers are a useful complement in cervical cancer screening, mainly for lesions in progression to malignancy, which should be promoted in our country.