Analysis of proliferative activity using anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen antibody in gastric cancer tissue specimens obtained by endoscopic biopsy.
BACKGROUND
Proliferative activities of tumors are thought to be prognostic features of malignant tumors, but their value as measured by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling remains unclear in gastric cancer.


METHODS
PCNA labeling rates (LR) were quantified in 121 paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens from primary tumors by immunocytochemistry.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical analyses have demonstrated that PCNA presents an intense staining in the nuclei of tumor cells and mucous neck cells of gastric glands. The PCNA LR ranged from 12% to 79% (mean +/- standard deviation), and a significant correlation was found between bromodeoxyuridine labeling indices and PCNA LR: PCNA LR were closely associated with tumor size, serosal invasion, and nodal involvement. The patients with tumors with high PCNA LR (greater than 40%) were dead significantly earlier than were those with tumors with low PCNA LR: When the PCNA LR and all the clinicopathologic parameters were entered into a Cox regression model, PCNA LR emerged as an independent prognostic factor.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that PCNA LR may be a potentially useful prognostic factor for gastric cancer.
Yonemura
Y
Y
Surgery II, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Japan.
Kimura
H
H
Fushida
S
S
Tugawa
K
K
Nakai
Y
Y
Kaji
M
M
Fonseca
L
L
Yamaguchi
A
A
Miyazaki
I
I
D000906:Antibodies; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*
D000906:Antibodies; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine