Desmoplastic stromal response as defined by positive α-smooth muscle actin staining is predictive of invasion in adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix.

The objective of this research was to examine the immunohistochemical profiles of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and early invasive adenocarcinoma (AC) to identify biomarkers that enhance the accurate diagnosis of early invasive glandular lesions of the cervix. The University of California, Irvine, and Long Beach Memorial tumor registries were used to identify 20 women with AIS or early AC treated between 1990 and 2008. An immunohistochemical study was performed, and the primary endpoint measured was the correlation between biomarker expression and invasive disease as diagnosed on hematoxylin and eosin examination. The biomarkers studied included α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), estrogen receptor, carcinoembryonic antigen, Ki67, p16, cyclooxygenase-2, and cluster of differentiation 1a. Stains were described on the basis of (1) positive or negative staining; (2) intensity; (3) percentage of positive cells; and (4) pattern of staining. Statistical analysis was performed using SYSTAT v. 11.0. Fisher exact test, Mann-Whitney nonparametric test, κ statistic, and intraclass correlation coefficient were used to evaluate results and interpreter agreement. A statistically significant increase in the staining of the periglandular stroma for α-SMA was seen in AC as compared with AIS. The intensity was 2.2 versus 1.2 (P=0.04) and the percent of positive-staining cells was 44% versus 18% (P=0.05) in AC and AIS, respectively. The presence of a desmoplastic stromal response as identified by the increased periglandular staining for α-SMA is useful in identifying invasive glandular lesions of the endocervix. Further studies are necessary to establish biologically relevant cut-off values for α-SMA staining.