Table of Contents
See also | Definition / general | Pathophysiology | Uses by pathologists | Microscopic (histologic) images | Positive staining - normal | Positive staining - disease | Negative stainingCite this page: Pernick N. Human papillomavirus. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainshpv.html. Accessed January 22nd, 2021.
See also
- Cervix-cytology chapter:
Definition / general
- Nuclear antigen
- Detection methods include PCR, in-situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry
- Can also detect via E6/E7 protein, p16 or ProExc (see below)
- Note: must understand what HPV subtypes / components the particular detection method targets
Pathophysiology
- HPV E6 protein induces p53 degradation by a ubiquitin-dependent pathway
- Also activates host cell telomerase
- HPV E7 protein binds retinoblastoma protein, leading to release of E2F transcription factor, then cell cycle progression
- E7 also interferes with p21 inhibition of cdk2, causing stimulation of S phase genes cyclin A and E
Uses by pathologists
- At any site, detection of HPV in lesions without typical histologic findings or in equivocal cases (Am J Dermatopathol 2013;35:327)
- Triage specimens with ASCUS into high risk (HPV+) or low risk (HPV-)
- Differentiate endocervical adenocarcinoma (usually HPV+) from endometrial adenocarcinoma (usually HPV-, Am J Surg Pathol 2002;26:998, Am J Surg Pathol 2010;34:915)
- Distinguish lung metastases from oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+) from lung primary squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-, Am J Surg Pathol 2012;36:142)
- Determine aggressiveness of basaloid squamous cell carcinomas of head and neck (aggressive: HPV-, less aggressive: HPV+, Am J Surg Pathol 2008;32:1044)
- Testing for HPV E6/E7 transcripts by RNA ISH confirms presence of integrated and transcriptionally active virus (Am J Surg Pathol 2012;36:1874)
- p16 immunohistochemistry (Am J Surg Pathol 2012;36:945, Am J Clin Pathol 2010;134:12) and ProExC immunocytochemistry (Am J Surg Pathol 2008;32:899, Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20:628) are also useful to detect HPV
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Positive staining - normal
- None
Positive staining - disease
- HPV related lesions (condyloma, squamous papilloma; many dysplastic, in situ or invasive carcinomas of anus, cervix, penis and vulva; also other sites)
- Bowen disease of skin
- HPV L1 nuclear capsid: 38% of anal squamous cell carcinoma in situ, usually L1 negative in associated invasive carcinomas, Am J Clin Pathol 2011;135:436)
- Langerhans cells in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (J Appl Oral Sci 2011;19:378)
Negative staining
- Normal cervix (may have nonspecific background staining)
- Endocervical glandular atypia / dysplasia (usually)
- Sebaceous carcinoma
- Verruciform xanthoma
- Verrucous carcinoma