MMUNOPHENOTYPES P53, KI-67, P16 AND CK17 OF PENILE AND VULVAR LICHEN SCLEROSUS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF DERMATOSIS

Background. Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a common genital dermatosis with a malignant potential. Immunohistochemical predictors of malignancy in vulva and to a lesser extent in penile LS have been fairly well studied, but no gender comparison has been performed. The aim was to establish possible gender IHC differences in genital LS using р53, Ki-67, p16 and CK17 proteins. Material and methods. Biopsy and surgical material of penis (n=40) and vulva (n=57) with a morphological diagnosis of LS was examined. A comparative analysis of gender LS IHC characteristics was performed. Results. For the frst time it was found out that LS does not have any signifcant gender IHC differences and is often associated with p53 overexpression (labeling index >70), low Ki-67, and negative p16 and CK17 patterns. Conclusions. It is likely that the skin and the mucous membranes of penis and vulva in LS may undergo so-called «ischemic stress» of the similar degree, reflecting an increase of wild-type p53.