Association Between E6 and E7 Human Papilloma Virus Type 16 Oncogen Mutations and P21 Protein Expression in Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a disease characterized by the growth of abnormal cells in the cervical tissue. Cervical cancer is mostly caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18. The role of genetic factors in the development of cervical malignancy is mediated by the presence of a mutation in the HPV 16 oncogene, especially oncogenes E6 and E7. Oncogenic proteins E6 and E7 in HPV initiate dysregulation of cellular proliferation and apoptotic mechanisms by targeting tumor suppressor proteins, such as the p21 protein. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between mutations in the E6 and E7 oncogenes of HPV-HR Type 16 and the pattern of p21 protein expression. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Polyclinic of Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah Hospital, from September 2020 to September 2021. The material taken was cervical cancer tissue from cervical cancer patients and then put into a preservative solution and then put in a cooler. DNA isolation was performed, and PCR was performed to determine positive and negative HPV. The amplification of the E6 and E7 genes was carried out before the sequencing and analysis of the E6 and E7 gene mutations was carried out. Then, immunohistochemical staining of p21 was carried out, followed by data analysis using SPSS for windows version 22.0. There were no significant differences in characteristics between the two groups. There was no association between mutations in the E6 and E7 HPV Type 16 oncogenes with p21 protein expression in cervical cancer cases (p-value 0.22).