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Q. What is the recommended use of p16 immunostaining as an adjunct diagnostic biomarker in HPV-associated lesions of the lower anogenital tract?
A. Recommendations for the use of p16 were published recently by the LAST Project, cosponsored by the CAP and the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP).1 The LAST Project recommended standardized terminology for all lower anogenital tract biopsies with noninvasive squamous pathology to follow the Bethesda System abbreviations of LSIL (low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) and HSIL (high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) in place of previously used mild-moderate-severe dysplasia or intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1, 2, or 3 (–IN 1–3). The lower anogenital tract (LAT) includes cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, perianal area, penis, and scrotum. The LAST Project also recognized p16 as a biomarker for E6/E7 oncogene activation in all HPV-related precancerous squamous lesions of the LAT. Overexpression of p16, as detected by immunohistochemistry, serves as a surrogate marker for cell-cycle dysregulation, a key step in HPV-mediated carcinogenesis.1,2 Additionally, Work Group 4 of the project issued specific recommendations for p16 to be used as an adjunct to standard morphology. When combined with the two-tiered grading system, this approach significantly improves diagnostic accuracy of the pathologic diagnosis of precancer1,3,4 and optimizes therapeutic management of patients for better clinical outcomes.1,5
The summary of the LAST Project consensus recommendations, including p16 biomarker recommendations, is available at the CAP Web site: www.cap.org/apps/docs/membership/transformation/new/asccp_sum_last_recom.pdf.
Briefly, p16 staining is recommended whenever there is:
- Differential diagnosis between precancer (HSIL) and precancer mimics.
- Disagreement in interpretation of precancer.
- High risk for missing precancer (high-risk cytology with negative/LSIL biopsy findings).
- H&E morphologic pattern of –IN 2. This recommendation has proved to reduce the equivocal and poorly reproducible –IN 2 diagnostic category.3,4 Positive p16 staining supports classifying –IN 2 as definitive HSIL.
- Staining for p16 is not recommended for biopsies that are negative or show unequivocal LSIL or HSIL (–IN 3).
Positive p16 staining is defined as strong and diffuse (continuous nuclear or nuclear and cytoplasmic) staining of the basal cell layer that involves at least the lower third of the epithelial thickness with or without full-thickness extension.1-4 p16 should be used in conjunction with standard morphologic diagnosis and not as a replacement. Other biomarkers of viral transformation (for example, ProEx C, Ki-67) may be helpful in especially challenging cases, but they add no additional value to p16 staining.1
Application of p16 immunocytochemistry in triage of squamous atypia in cervical cytology remains controversial. Procedural and interpretation differences as well as a lack of standardized protocols make the analysis challenging.6,7 Recent meta-analysis from 17 studies in which p16 was used to predict HSIL (CIN 2+) showed higher specificities in ASC-US and LSIL groups with loss of sensitivity in LSIL category when compared with HPV testing.7 However, no consensus exists for cytologic application of p16 in standard clinical practice, pending further studies.
The use of p16 immunohistochemical staining when combined with other markers may help to distinguish endocervical from endometrial adenocarcinoma, though serous carcinomas can also be positive.8-10 Strong diffuse p16 staining is usually observed in HPV-associated preinvasive lesions of the endocervix (endocervical dysplasia and adenocarcinoma in situ) but not in benign mimics (tubal and squamous metaplasia), which may show focal or patchy staining.10
A p16 immunostain should always be interpreted in conjunction with morphologic findings, using previously validated antibodies and methods.
References
1. Darragh TM, Colgan TJ, Cox JT, et al. The Lower Anogenital Squamous Terminology Standardization Project for HPV-associated lesions: background and consensus recommendations from the College of American Pathologists and the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2012;136(10):1266–1297.
2. Wentzensen N, von Knebel Doeberitz M. Biomarkers in cervical cancer screening. Dis Markers. 2007;23(4): 315–330.
3. Galgano MT, Castle PE, Atkins KA, et al. Using biomarkers as objective standards in the diagnosis of cervical biopsies. Am J Surg Pathol. 2010;34(8):1077–1087.
4. Bergeron C, Ordi J, Schmidt D, et al. Conjunctive p16INK4a testing significantly increases accuracy in diagnosing high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Am J Clin Pathol. 2010;133(3):395–406.
5. Waxman AG, Chelmow D, Darragh TM, et al. Revised terminology for cervical histopathology and its implications for management of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix. Obstet Gynecol. 2012;120(6):1465–1471.
6. Denton KJ, Bergeron C, Klement P, et al. The sensitivity and specificity of p16(INK4a) cytology vs HPV testing for detecting high-grade cervical disease in the triage of ASC-US and LSIL pap cytology results. Am J Clin Pathol. 2010;134(1):12–21.
7. Roelens J, Reuschenbach M, von Knebel Doeberitz M, et al. p16INK4a immunocytochemistry versus human papillomavirus testing for triage of women with minor cytologic abnormalities: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Cytopathol. 2012;120(5):294–307.
8. Kong CS, Beck AH, Longacre TA. A panel of 3 markers including p16, ProExC, or HPV ISH is optimal for distinguishing between primary endometrial and endocervical adenocarcinomas. Am J Surg Pathol. 2010;34(7):915–926.
9. Jones MW, Onisko A, Dabbs DJ, et al. Immunohistochemistry and HPV in situ hybridization in pathologic distinction between endocervical and endometrial adenocarcinoma: a comparative tissue microarray study of 76 tumors. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2013;23(2):380–384.
10. Park KJ, Soslow RA. Current concepts in cervical pathology. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2009;133(5):729–738.
Krzysztof Moroz, MD
Director, Cytology Laboratory
Tulane University Health Sciences Center
New Orleans
Member, CAP
Immunohistochemistry Committee
Q. We have validated that our centrifuge produces platelet-poor plasma (<10 × 109/L) for coagulation samples at a time of 10 minutes. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendation is 1,500g for no less than 15 minutes. Is the time and speed centrifuge-specific? Have studies been performed on StatSpins? Can StatSpin-type centrifuges be used to spin coagulation samples?
A. CLSI document H21-A5: “Collection, transport, and processing of blood specimens for testing plasma-based coagulation assays and molecular hemostasis assays; approved guideline—5th edition,” as correctly pointed out, provides a recommendation for the relative centrifugal force (RCF) and time of centrifugation necessary to obtain sodium citrate platelet-poor plasma (PPP) samples.1 PPP is generally defined as post-centrifugation plasma that contains less than 10 × 109/L platelets. Specifically, H21-A5 states that the most common condition under which to obtain PPP is 1,500g for no less than 15 minutes at room temperature, but that centrifugal speed and duration must be established by each laboratory. The RCF and duration required to consistently produce PPP will vary depending on the brand and model of centrifuge used. This is because RCF is dependent on the speed (revolutions per minute, or RPM) and distance of the specimen from the axis, or the rotating radius. Furthermore, to prevent remixing of plasma and reintroduction of cellular elements, it is recommended that a swing-out bucket (angle) rotor be used and that the brake not be applied at the end of centrifugation.
It has been documented, however, that routine coagulation assays, such as APTT, PT/INR, and thrombin time, are not affected by platelet counts up to 200 × 109/L (200,000/μL) when testing is performed on fresh samples.2,3 Shorter centrifuge times at 1,500g therefore are acceptable for routine coagulation assays, if testing is performed on fresh samples immediately post-centrifugation and only when there are no subsequent test requirements, thereby ensuring that plasma will not be frozen or processed for additional assays.4
Another means to reduce the time needed for centrifugation, but still achieve PPP, is to increase the RCF. Using centrifugal forces greater than 1,500g is generally discouraged as this may induce platelet activation and lysis of red blood cells.4 To the contrary, a number of studies have reported no adverse effect on routine coagulation testing, such as APTT, PT, and fibrinogen, if centrifuged at high speed (for example, 11,000g) for short (for example, two-minute) durations.5,6 H21-A5 also states that higher-speed and shorter-duration centrifuges (also known as “Statfuge”) can be used as long as speed and duration of centrifugation are tested to determine optimum conditions for producing PPP.1 It has been cautioned, however, that samples spun in this manner should be tested within about 10 minutes if sampled from the primary tube or promptly aliquoted to a secondary tube, to prevent the drift of platelets, which cling to the side of the tube at high RCF, back into the plasma.7 Also of potential relevance here is the recommendation from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Scientific Standardisation Committee on Lupus Anticoagulants (LA) that samples destined for LA testing after freezing be first processed by double centrifugation, with recommended speeds of 2,000g and “>2,500g,” respectively.8
In summary, the most important considerations are that any deviation from recommended practice such as CLSI1 should be validated by the individual laboratory and that PPP should contain less than 10 × 109/L platelets if the sample is not tested immediately and instead needs to be frozen for subsequent testing (for routine coagulation and specialized hemostasis tests).
References
1. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Collection, transport, and processing of blood specimens for testing plasma-based coagulation assays and molecular hemostasis assays; approved guideline—5th edition. CLSI document H21-A5. Wayne, Pa.: CLSI;2008.
2. Carroll WE, Wollitzer AO, Harris L, et al. The significance of platelet counts in coagulation studies. J Med. 2001;32(1–2):83–96.
3. Barnes PW, Eby CS, Lukoszyk M. Residual platelet counts in plasma prepared for routine coagulation testing with the Beckman Coulter power processor. Lab Hematol. 2002;8(4):205–209.
4. Lippi G, Salvagno GL, Montagnana M, et al. Influence of the centrifuge time of primary plasma tubes on routine coagulation testing. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2007;18(5):525–528.
5. Nelson S, Pritt A, Marlar RA. Rapid preparation of plasma for ‘stat’ coagulation testing. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1994;118(2):175–176.
6. Pappas AA, Palmer SK, Meece D, et al. Rapid preparation of plasma for coagulation testing. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1991;115(8):816–817.
7. Kao CH, Shu LC, Yen WH. Evaluation of a high-speed centrifuge with rapid preparation of plasma for coagulation testing to improve turnaround time. J Biomed Lab Sci. 2010;22(1):23–27.
8. Pengo V, Tripodi A, Reber G, et al. Update of the guidelines for lupus anticoagulant detection. J Thromb Haemost. 2009;7(10):1737–1740.
Dorothy M. (Adcock) Funk, MD
Medical/Laboratory Director
Esoterix Coagulation Inc.
Englewood, Colo.
Member, CAP Coagulation Resource Committee
Giuseppe Lippi, MD
Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Academic Hospital of Parma
Parma, Italy
Emmanuel J. Favaloro, PhD, FFSc (RCPA)
Department of Haematology
Institute of Clinical Pathology and
Medical Research
Westmead Hospital
Westmead NSW
Australia
Dr. Kiechle is medical director of clinical pathology, Memorial Healthcare, Hollywood, Fla. Use the reader service card to submit your inquiries, or address them to Sherrie Rice, CAP TODAY, 325 Waukegan Road, Northfield, IL 60093; srice@cap.org.