Comparative evaluation of nm23 and p16 expression as biomarkers of high-risk human papillomavirus infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ lesions of the uterine cervix

Aims: To investigate the clinical role of nm23 expression in identifying both high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) and high-grade cervical lesions or carcinomas [cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2⁺ (CIN2⁺)], and to compare it with p16 overexpression, as this latter biomarker has already been reported widely in HR-HPV infected cervical lesions.Methods and results: Immunohistochemical evaluation of nm23 and p16 in 143 cervical biopsy specimens including negative, low- and high-grade lesions and squamous carcinomas (SC). HR-HPV testing by Digene hybrid capture 2 (HC2) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the cervico-vaginal samples of the same patients. In detecting CIN2⁺, p16 was significantly more sensitive and specific than nm23 (96.3% versus 81.8% and 66% versus 36.4%, respectively, both P <0.0001). Concerning HR-HPV detection by HC2, p16 showed a significantly higher specificity than nm23 (82% versus 47%, P + or HR-HPV infection.