Scoring mechanisms of p16INK4a immunohistochemistry based on either independent nucleic stain or mixed cytoplasmic with nucleic expression can significantly signal to distinguish between endocervical and endometrial adenocarcinomas in a tissue microarray study

Table 1 Scoring methods based on p16^INK4a expression patterns and subcellular loci in ECA and EMA

Scoring Method	Score categories	ECA	EMA	p-value
C	Score 0–3	9 (64.3%)	20 (83.3%)	.245^a
	Score 4–12	5 (35.7%)	4 (16.7%)
	Median (Range)	2 (0–12)	2 (0–12)	.152
N	Score 0–3	3 (21.4%)	17 (70.8%)	.006^a
	Score 4–12	11 (78.6%)	7 (29.2%)
	Median (Range)	5 (2–12)	2 (0–9)	<0.001^b
Mean of C plus N	Score 0–3	4 (28.6%)	21 (87.5%)	<0.001^a
	Score 4–12	10 (71.4%)	3 (12.5%)
	Median (Range)	4.25 (2–12)	2 (0–10.5)	<0.001^b

PS:
1. C: Method of scoring based on independent cytoplasmic staining alone, irrespective of nucleic staining.
2. N: Method of scoring based on independent nucleic staining alone, irrespective cytoplasmic staining.
3. Mean of C plus N: Method of scoring based on mean of cytoplasmic score plus nucleic score.
Note:
• The "a" is Chi-squared test with continuity correction or Fisher exact test, the "b" is Mann-Whitney U test using exact significant.
•Using score 4 points as a cutoff, the immunostains are defined "negative" for scores from 0 to 3, and "positive" for scores from 4 to 12 points.

ISSN: 1479-5876