title: Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunolabeling as a prognostic factor in axillary lymph node negative breast cancer.
abstract: The fraction of nuclei positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was determined in 205 axillary lymph node negative (pN-) breast carcinoma. The results were related to established prognostic factors and prognosis during the mean follow-up period of 11 years. The maximum fraction of PCNA-positive nuclei (PCNAmax), the average fraction of positive nuclei (PCNAtot) and the number of intensively stained nuclei/microscope field (PCNAcount) were significantly related to histological grade (p < 0.001), DNA Ploidy (p < 0.022), S phase fraction (p < 0.003) and mitotic index (p < 0.003). PCNAmax (p = 0.020) and PCNAcount (p < 0.003) predicted recurrence-free survival in univariate analysis whereas tumour diameter (p < 0.001) was an independent predictor in a multivariate analysis. In univariate survival analysis PCNAtot (p < 0.0178), PCNAmax (p = 0.0054) and PCNAcount (p < 0.001) predicted survival and in multivariate analysis PCNAcount (p = 0.006), patient age (p = 0.040) and tumour diameter (p = 0.042) were related independently to survival. The results indicate that PCNA immunolabeling has prognostic value in local breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aaltomaa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lipponen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Syrjänen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001940:Breast / Q000276:immunology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
chemical_list: D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen