The Optiview detection kit with the automated 100 BenchMark ULTRA IHC/ISH system (Roche) was used to perform immunostaining of both p16INK4a and Ki-67. Mouse monoclonal antibodies against the p16INK4a antigen (clone E6H4; Roche, Basel, Switzerland) were used for immunostaining of p16INK4a. Immunostaining of Ki-67 was performed with mouse monoclonal antibodies against the Ki-67 antigen (clone Ki-67; Dako, Glostrup, Denmark).
A negative or patchy staining pattern of p16INK4a was scored as 0, whereas a diffuse (or block) p16INK4a staining pattern up to the lower third of the epithelium was scored as 1, extending above the lower third of the epithelium was scored as 2, or extending more than two-thirds of epithelium was scored as 3. When a diffuse staining pattern for p16INK4a was present, we also scored whether this pattern was completely diffuse or combined with a negative or patchy staining pattern. Ki-67 expression was scored as not increased (score 0), increased in the lower third (score 1), increased in the lower two-thirds (score 2), or increased in more than two-thirds (score 3) of the epithelium.