title: Cell proliferation in breast carcinoma assessed by a PCNA grading system and its relation to other prognostic variables.
abstract: This study was undertaken to relate the expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a proliferation marker of putative prognostic significance, to some more established prognostic factors in a series of 60 consecutive breast cancer surgical specimens. PCNA was detected by the PC10 monoclonal antibody (MAb) using an immunohistochemical method and PCNA immunostaining was estimated on a semiquantitative basis, a cut-off value of 50% of positively stained tumour cells discriminating between the high (> 50%) and low (< 50%) PCNA grade. The PCNA grade did not correlate with tumour size and axillary node status. However, a high PCNA grade tended to be associated with a poor histological grade and there was an inverse relationship with oestrogen-receptor status, as determined by means of the immuno-histochemical staining for the oestrogen-induced pS2 protein. These conflicting results suggest that the possible prognostic usefulness of PCNA immunostaining, as a measure of cell proliferation rate, in breast cancer is yet to be demonstrated and can be validated only by direct relation to survival data.
authors.affiliation: Service of Pathological Anatomy and Cytopathology, Santo Spirito Hospital, Casale Monferrato, Italy.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Betta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bottero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavesi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pastormerlo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bellinger
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tallarida
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000473:pathology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D001365:Axilla; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000473:pathology; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D011506:Proteins; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004967:Estrogens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D011506:Proteins; C051838:TFF1 protein, human; D000071163:Trefoil Factor-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins