Incidence and clinicopathologic characteristics of human papillomavirus-independent invasive squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix: A morphologic, immunohistochemical, and human papilloma-virologic study of 670 cases Journal Article


Authors: Stolnicu, S.; Allison, D.; Praiss, A. M.; Tessier-Cloutier, B.; Momeni Boroujeni, A.; Flynn, J.; Iasonos, A.; Serrette, R.; Hoang, L.; Patrichi, A.; Terinte, C.; Pesci, A.; Mateoiu, C.; Lastra, R. R.; Kiyokawa, T.; Ali-Fehmi, R.; Kheil, M.; Oliva, E.; Devins, K. M.; Abu-Rustum, N. R.; Soslow, R. A.
Article Title: Incidence and clinicopathologic characteristics of human papillomavirus-independent invasive squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix: A morphologic, immunohistochemical, and human papilloma-virologic study of 670 cases
Abstract: We aimed to determine the frequency of human papillomavirus-independent (HPVI) cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and to describe clinicopathologic characteristics. Among 670 patients with surgically treated SCCs in an established multi-institutional cohort, 447 had available tissue. Tissue microarrays were constructed and studied by in situ hybridization (ISH) for high-risk and low-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) mRNA and immunohistochemistry for p16 and p53. Tumors were HPVI if negative by HPV ISH and they failed to show diffuse p16 positivity by immunohistochemistry, and human papillomavirus-associated (HPVA) if positive by HPV ISH. Ten HPVI SCCs and 435 HPVA SCCs were identified; 2 cases were equivocal and excluded from analysis. The overall rate of HPVI SCC was low (2%) but was higher among older patients (7% in patients above 60 y of age and 17% in patients above 70 y of age). Compared with HPVA, patients with HPVI SCC were significantly older (median age, 72 vs. 49, P <0.001) and diagnosed at a higher stage (40% vs. 18% with stage III/IV disease, P =0.055). p53 expression was varied; 2 cases (20%) had null expression and 8 (80%) had wild-type expression. HPVI SCCs were heterogenous, with keratinizing, nonkeratinizing, and warty morphologies observed. Several cases had a precursor lesion reminiscent of differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, with prominent basal atypia and hypereosinophilia or a basaloid-like morphology. Two patients (20%) had distant recurrences within 12 months, and 3 (30%) died of disease during follow-up. HPVI SCCs are rare tumors that are more common among older patients with higher stage disease and have important clinical and histologic differences from HPVA SCCs. Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: aged; genetics; squamous cell carcinoma; carcinoma, squamous cell; incidence; pathology; protein p53; chemistry; tumor suppressor protein p53; papilloma; cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2a; cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16; uterine cervical neoplasms; uterine cervix tumor; uterine cervix; cervix uteri; wart virus; papillomavirus infections; papillomavirus infection; papillomaviridae; humans; human; female; human papillomavirus viruses
Journal Title: American Journal of Surgical Pathology
Volume: 47
Issue: 12
ISSN: 0147-5185
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins  
Date Published: 2023-12-01
Start Page: 1376
End Page: 1389
Language: English
DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000002122
PUBMED: 37702216
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC10840845
DOI/URL:
Notes: The MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) is acknowledged in the PDF -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Alexia Elia Iasonos
    363 Iasonos
  2. Jessica Flynn
    182 Flynn