Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Labelling Index in Gastric Cancer and Its Significances

Kim, Young Jin; Kuh, Won Hoe; Kim, Dong Yi; Kim, Shin Kon; Park, Chang Soo

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is an auxillary protein of DNA polymerase delta and is tightly associated with sites of DNA replication. We studied the expression of PCNA in primary gastric cancer to identify its significance as a prognostic factor.
METHODS
The growth activities of 101 gastric carcinomas were assessed by imrnunohistochemical staining for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue with a monoclonal antibody against PCNA. The PCNA labelling index (LI) was calculated as a percentage of positive cells relative to the 1,000 tumor cells. The conelation between the PCNA LI and various clinicopathologic parameters were assessed.
RESULTS
The PCNA LI of 101 tumors (mean+/-SD) was 56.0% +/-27.7%. There was no correlation between the PCNA LI and sex, states of tissue CEA, DNA ploidy pattern or tumor size. The PCNA LI was closely associated with tumor location, serosal invasion, nodal involvement and advanced stage of gastric cancer. The PCNA LI of adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that of mucinous and signet ring cell carcinoma.
CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that PCNA LI may be an useful indicator for evaluating the malignant potential of gastric cancer and can be used as an independent prognostic factor.