PCNA and Ki67 expression in breast carcinoma: correlations with clinical and biological variables.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of two cell cycle related antigens (proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67 related antigen) in a series of breast cancers; and the possible correlations between the PCNA and Ki67 labelling indexes (PCNA-LI and Ki67-LI) and their associations with other biological and clinicopathological variables.


METHODS
Ninety six ductal and 10 lobular carcinoma specimens were investigated. Samples were fixed in formalin and in Methacarnoy for localisation of PCNA. Ki67 was immunostained on frozen sections. The PCNA-LI and Ki67-LI were evaluated in relation to tumour size, mitotic count, histological grade, nodal state as well as receptor content and altered expression of the p53 gene.


RESULTS
PCNA-LI did not correlate with Ki67-LI, nor was it associated with any other variable examined. A high KI67-LI (above the median value of 13.5) was associated with high grade and mitotic count, negative receptor content, and altered expression of the p53 gene, but not with other variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The PCNA-LI does not seem to be a substitute for the Ki67-LI in evaluating the growth fraction in breast cancer.
Department of Histopathology, S Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy.
E
E
Leonardi
S
S
Girlando
G
G
Serio
F A
FA
Mauri
G
G
Perrone
S
S
Scampini
P
P
Dalla Palma
M
M
Barbareschi
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53