Detection of human papillomavirus and cellular regulators p16 INK4a, p53, and NF-κB in penile cancer cases in Kenya

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 gene products play a central role in the induction of benign proliferation and malignant transformation by interacting with several cellular regulatory proteins such as p53, p16 INK4a, and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). In this study, HPV DNA was detected by in situ hybridization (ISH) and p53, p16INK4a, and NF-κB by immunochemistry in 22 penile cancer cases in Kenya. HPV DNA was found in 68.2% of the cases. There was no difference in the p53- and p16INK4a-positivities in HPV DNA-positive and HPV DNA-negative cases. In HPV DNA-positive cases, the NF-κB positivity in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and nucleus and/or cytoplasm amounted to 73.3%, 93.3%, and 100%, respectively, while in HPV DNA-negative cases, a 28.7% NF-κB positivity of in the nucleus and/or cytoplasm was observed. It is concluded that NF-κB in penile cancer is expressed more frequently in the presence of HPV infection than in its absence.