Immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in solid human malignancies
Robbins, B.A.; de la Vega, D.; Ogata, K.; Tan, E.M.; Nakamura, R.M.
Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 111(9): 841-845
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9985 PMID: 2888448 Document Number: 286766
Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), also known as cyclin, is a cell cycle-related nuclear protein that is maximally elevated in late G1 and S phases of proliferating cells. In this study, PCNA was identified by paraffin-section immunohistochemistry in 42 of 64 solid human malignancies, and in several benign tissues known to contain proliferating cells. The PCNA-positive nuclei were randomly distributed and ranged from less than 1% (in most cases) to more than 20% of the neoplastic cells. In general, PCNA positivity correlated with mitotic activity and tumor grade. Further study is necessary to evaluate PCNA as a marker of cellular proliferation and a potential prognostic marker in human malignancy.