Prognostic value of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in lymph node-negative breast cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
The prognostic value of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) has been demonstrated in recent studies of human tumors including breast cancer.


METHODS
PCNA immunoreactivity was assessed retrospectively in a consecutive series of 173 lymph node-negative primary breast cancer cases. The PCNA grade was determined according to estimated quartiles of nuclear immunostaining, and its association to disease-free and overall survival was studied.


RESULTS
PCNA grade was associated significantly with nuclear grade. On univariate analysis, PCNA grade was associated significantly with both 5-year relapse-free survival rate (Grades 1-2 = 78%; Grades 3-4 = 52%; P = 0.0117) and overall survival. On multivariate analysis, T category and PCNA were associated independently and significantly with both relapse-free and overall survival. Nevertheless, the magnitude of the association of PCNA grade to prognosis was low (relative risk of recurrence in patients with PCNA Grades 3-4 versus Grades 1-2 = 2.13), and only 24% of all relapses or 28.8% of all cancer deaths observed at 5 years occurred in patients with PCNA Grades 3-4.


CONCLUSIONS
The predictive value of the relationship of PCNA grade to prognosis was too low to be of value as an independent prognostic indicator.
Bianchi
S
S
Institute of Anatomia e Isologia Patologica, University of Florence, Italy.
Paglierani
M
M
Zampi
G
G
Cardona
G
G
Cataliotti
L
L
Bonardi
R
R
Zappa
M
M
Ciatto
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen