Expression of HPV16 E6 protein in nonneoplastic epithelial disorder of the vulva and squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva

Abstract

To investigate the expression of high risk human papilloma virus (HPV) 16-E6 protein in non-neoplastic epithelial disorders of the vulva (NNEDV) and squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva (VSCC), and to explore whether HPV16-E6 protein is the etiological factor in NNEDV and its correlation with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulvae. We detected HPV16-E6 protein expression in 15 normal vulvae cases, 40 NNEDV cases and 45 VSCC cases by immunohistochemistry SP method. The positive rate of HPV16-E6 in different vulva tissues: was 0% in the normal vulva, 30% in NNEDV and 66.67% in VSCC, respectively. The overall positive rate and two two comparison had statistical significance. In the NNEDV group, the positive rate of squamous hyperplasia type and lichen sclerosus type was 35% and 25%, respectively, with no statistical significance (P>0.05), but higher than that in the normal vulva skin group (P<0.05) and lower than that in the VSCC group (P<0.05). The positive rate of HPV16-E6 in VSCC was 66. 67%. The positive rate increased with the clinical stage. The positive rate between Phase I and Phase II, and that between Phase I and Phase III had statistical significance (P<0.017), but that between Phase II and Phase III had no statistical significance (P>0.017). The positive rate gradually decreased with the tumor differentiation. The difference in well-differentiated and poorly differentiated, moderately and poorly differentiated had statistical significance (P<0.017), but that of well-differentiated and moderately differentiated had no statistical significance (P>0.017). The positive rate of lymph node metastasis VSCC was significantly higher than that of non-lymph node metastasis VSCC (P<0.05). HPV infection may be an etiological factor for NNEDV. The rise of HPV16-E6 positive rate may be related to the occurrence and development of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.