EVALUATION OF CYTOKERATIN 18 IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE CERVIX IN RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix presents in varying stages, including squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCIS) and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (ISCC). Cytokeratin 7 (CK7) and cytokeratin 18 (CK18) are commonly studied biomarkers in epithelial cancers, but their roles in distinguishing between SCCIS and ISCC remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the expression patterns of CK18 in SCC biopsy samples from Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, investigating their utility in differentiating between SCCIS and ISCC, and examining their associations with tumour grade and cell type. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 95 SCC biopsy samples, comprising 50 SCCIS and 45 ISCC cases. Immunohistochemical staining for CK18 was performed, and the positivity rates were compared across SCCIS and ISCC stages, tumour grades, and cell types. Statistical analysis was carried out using Chi-square tests to determine the significance of differences in marker expression. CK18 positivity was observed in 80% of SCCIS and 78% of ISCC cases, indicating high expression across both stages. CK18 positivity was found in 32.4% of cases, with no significant difference between SCCIS (30.0%) and ISCC (35.6%). CK18 expression did not vary significantly with tumour grade or cell type. The findings suggest that while CK18 is consistently expressed, CK18 does not differentiate well between SCCIS and ISCC or reflect tumour grading. CK18 shows consistent expression in SCCIS and ISCC, making it a reliable marker for epithelial differentiation. However, CK18 does not effectively distinguish between SCCIS and ISCC or correlate with tumour grade. This underscores the need for additional research to identify more specific biomarkers for better characterization of SCC stages and progression. Enhanced biomarker panels and personalized treatment strategies are recommended to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient management.
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