Lower female genital tract tumors with adenoid cystic differentiation: P16 expression and high-risk HPV detection

Deyin Xing, J. Kenneth Schoolmeester, Zhiyong Ren, Christina Isacson, Brigitte M. Ronnett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lower female genital tract tumors with adenoid cystic differentiation are rare, and data on their relationship with highrisk human papillomavirus (HPV) are limited. Here we report the clinicopathologic features from a case series. Tumors with adenoid cystic differentiation, either pure or as part of a carcinoma with mixed differentiation, arising in the lower female genital tract were evaluated by means of immunohistochemical analysis for p16 expression and in situ hybridization using 1 or more probes for high-risk HPV (a high-risk probe covering multiple types, a wide-spectrum probe, and separate type-specific probes for HPV16 and HPV18) and when possible by polymerase chain reaction for high-risk HPV. Six cervical carcinomas with adenoid cystic differentiation admixed with various combinations of at least 1 other pattern of differentiation, including adenoid basal tumor (epithelioma and/or carcinoma), squamous cell carcinoma (basaloid or keratinizing), and small cell carcinoma were identified in patients ranging in age from 50 to 86 years (mean, 73 y; median, 76 y). All of these tumors were characterized by diffuse p16 expression. High-risk HPV was detected in 5 of 6 tested cases: 4 cases by in situ hybridization (all positive for HPV-wide-spectrum and HPV16) and 1 by polymerase chain reaction (HPV45). Seven pure adenoid cystic carcinomas (6 vulvar and 1 cervical) were identified in patients ranging in age from 27 to 74 years (mean, 48 y; median, 48 y). All of these tumors were characterized by variable p16 expression ranging from very limited to more extensive but never diffuse. No high-risk HPV was detected in any of these pure tumors. Lower female genital tract carcinomas with adenoid cystic differentiation appear to comprise 2 pathogenetically distinct groups. Cervical carcinomas with mixed differentiation, including adenoid cystic, adenoid basal, squamous, and small cell components, are etiologically related to high-risk HPV and can be identified by diffuse p16 expression. Pure vulvar and cervical adenoid cystic carcinomas appear to be unrelated to high-risk HPV and are distinguished from the mixed carcinomas by nondiffuse p16 expression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)529-536
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Surgical Pathology
Volume40
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

Keywords

  • Adenoid basal tumor
  • Adenoid cystic carcinoma
  • Cervical carcinoma
  • High-risk human papillomavirus
  • Vulvar carcinoma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anatomy
  • Surgery
  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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