Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40964778›Full record

ArticleHistopathology2025

Six-pattern p53 interpretation in 1293 vulvar squamous cell carcinomas: inter-pathologist variation and pattern distribution according to p16 status.

Emma L Kaderly Rasmussen, Susanne K Kjær, Lise G Larsen, Else Mejlgaard, Maria B Franzmann, Alexander K Kjær, Nadia V Salinas, Doris Schledermann, Kirsten Frederiksen, Tatiana Hansen and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Histopathology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Scientific Progress and Impacts to Pathology Practice.International journal of gynecological pathology : official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Emma L Kaderly RasmussenDanish Cancer Institute, Unit of Virus, Lifestyle and Genes, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7466-631X
Susanne K KjærDanish Cancer Institute, Unit of Virus, Lifestyle and Genes, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8347-1398
Lise G LarsenDepartment of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Næstved, Denmark.
Else MejlgaardDepartment of Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Maria B FranzmannDepartment of Pathology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
Alexander K KjærDanish Cancer Institute, Unit of Virus, Lifestyle and Genes, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4614-8743
Nadia V SalinasDepartment of Pathology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Doris SchledermannDepartment of Pathology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4272-718X
Kirsten FrederiksenStatistics and Data Analysis, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7919-6613
Tatiana HansenCancer Survivorship, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Birgitte H WinbergDepartment of Pathology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark.
Marianne WaldstrømDepartment of Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6272-7297
Louise BaandrupDanish Cancer Institute, Unit of Virus, Lifestyle and Genes, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5773-5169

Funding

Erik og Susanna Olesens Almenvelgørende FondKræftens BekæmpelseSjællands Universitetshospital
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsVulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is classified into human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated and HPV-independent types, primarily using p16 immunohistochemistry, with p53 staining playing a complementary role since a subset of HPV-independent VSCC is driven by TP53 mutations. We aimed to assess the robustness of the six-pattern p53 classification by evaluating interobserver agreement and mapping pattern distribution in relation to p16 status.

methodsWe performed p53 immunohistochemistry on 1293 VSCC cases, comprising 832 p16-negative and 461 p16-positive cases. Eight pathologists independently evaluated p53, with each case assessed by two pathologists. Expression was classified as wild-type (scattered or mid-epithelial) or mutated (basal overexpression, parabasal/diffuse overexpression, absent or cytoplasmic). Interobserver agreement was measured using kappa statistics.

resultsOverall concordance across the six p53 patterns was 66.7%, increasing to 86.9% when dichotomized as wild-type versus mutated. In the p16-negative cases, concordance was 68.8% across all six patterns and 82.6% when dichotomized. Corresponding rates in the p16-positive cases were 62.9% and 94.6%. Kappa values for pairwise assessments ranged from 0.44 to 0.73 (six-pattern) and from 0.60 to 0.88 (dichotomized). After resolving discordant cases, 79.9% of p16-negative cases showed a mutated pattern, and 20.1% were wild type (scattered). Among the p16-positive cases, 93.1% exhibited a wild-type pattern.

conclusionsFindings support the clinical robustness of the six-pattern p53 framework, as interobserver agreement was high and most discrepancies were unlikely to impact tumour classification. While p16 proved helpful in p53 interpretation, certain cases remained challenging due to p53 heterogeneity or ambiguous p16/p53 combinations indicating a need for additional molecular testing in such instances.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorCarcinoma, Squamous CellCyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16Tumor Suppressor Protein p53Vulvar NeoplasmsAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansImmunohistochemistryMiddle AgedMutationObserver VariationBiomarkers, TumorCDKN2A protein, humanCyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16TP53 protein, humanTumor Suppressor Protein p53classificationimmunohistochemistryp16p53vulvar cancervulvar squamous cell carcinoma

Identifiers

PMID40964778
PMCPMC12605707

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.