How does detecting p16INK4a differ from detecting Ki67?
p16INK4a is a cellular protein that is significantly over-expressed during HR-HPV cellular oncogenic transformation and is thus linked to the development of disease. In contrast, Ki67 is a proliferation associated antigen that is a marker for cellular proliferation (not differing between healthy or unhealthy cell proliferation). Differences between the two test methods are obvious from the staining pattern as well as from the kind of cells stained, i.e. Ki67 also stains inflammatory cells.
