Early diagnosis of Cervical Cancer using tumor biomarkers P16 and Ki67: A systematic review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is a malignant neoplasm located in the cervix (portion between the end of the vagina and the uterus) and is a disease that evolves over the years. To diagnose this disease, several tools are needed, among them is the use of biomarkers, such as the P16 and Ki67 biomarkers. OBJECTIVE: To describe the tumor biomarkers P16 and ki67 and describe their usefulness for the identification, diagnosis and early prognosis of cervical cancer.  METHODS: This is a systematic review study, using the PRISMA method of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Virtual libraries such as Scielo, PubMed and BVS were used to search for articles, with keywords in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Articles with a publication date within the last 10 years were included, within the central theme of this study. RESULTS: To support this work, 15 articles were selected to support the development of the present study. Among the biomarkers addressed, P16 stands out as a tumor suppressor protein, playing a fundamental role in the regulation of the cell cycle. Its overexpression within cervical cells indicates intraepithelial neoplasms. The biomarker Ki67 is another protein and this one related to cell proliferation that indicates the progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasms. In normal tissue, it is found exclusively in parabasal cells, its overexposure in other layers of cervical tissue indicates dysregulation of the cell cycle caused by HPV. Scientific studies show that the biomarkers P16 and Ki67 are better when used together, because the coexpression of these two proteins result in dysregulation of the cell and are usually detectable in higher grade lesions, the higher the degree of injury, the greater the expression of these two proteins. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the studies found, tumor biomarkers p16 and Ki-67 have been shown to be valuable tools in the diagnosis and prognosis of cervical cancer. The presence of p16 is indicative of a high-grade precursor lesion, while Ki-67 expression is related to cell proliferation and tumor activity. The associated use of these biomarkers can provide more accurate information about the stage or degree of cervical injury of the disease and assist in making therapeutic decisions. Therefore, the analysis of these markers is essential for the effective clinical approach to cervical cancer.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/interdiinovationscrese-017