“THE IMPORTANCE OF CLINICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL PRINCIPLES IN PREDICTING PRECANCER AND EARLY FORMS OF CERVICAL CANCER”

Abstract

Cervical cancer remains a significant global health concern, characterized by high rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite the existence of screening programs and the availability of the HPV vaccine, the incidence of cervical cancer remains alarmingly high, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The development of cervical cancer involves the transformation from normal cervical epithelium to precancerous lesions (CIN1-3), eventually progressing to invasive cancer. This progression often occurs as a result of persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) strains. Immunohistochemical markers, such as p16 and Ki-67, have emerged as valuable tools in understanding this process. The p16 protein is known to be overexpressed in cells exhibiting abnormal cell cycle regulation, a common feature of both precancerous and cancerous cells. Ki-67, on the other hand, is a nuclear protein associated with cell proliferation and its expression is frequently elevated in cancerous cells. Extensive research has indicated that these markers hold potential in aiding the diagnosis and prognosis of various cancers, including cervical cancer.