PCNA/cyclin expression in breast carcinomas: its relationships with Ki-67, ER, PgR immunostainings and clinico-pathologic aspects
Tuccari, G.; Rizzo, A.; Muscarà, M.; Giuffrè, G.; Barresi, G.
Pathologica 85(1095): 47-55
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-2983 PMID: 8100059 Document Number: 418068
By the monoclonal antibody PC10, the Authors have analyzed the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity on fixed and unfixed specimens of breast ductal (42 cases) and lobular carcinomas (15 cases) as well as in normal breast tissue adjacent to carcinomas; for all cases the post-surgical stadiation as well as immunohistochemical data concerning ER and PgR receptors were available. In addition, the immunohistochemical pattern of Ki-67 has been also recorded. The study documented a constant expression of PCNA in all breast carcinomas with an heterogenous pattern whereas the immunoreactivity for Ki-67 appeared less represented and focal, so that a linear relationship between PCNA and Ki-67 immunostainings was absent. Moreover, the chi-square test failed to show any correlation between PCNA and immunocytochemical demonstration of ER and PgR receptors, dimensions of tumours, histological grade and lymph node involvement. The PCNA expression in adjacent morphologically normal breast tissue may suggest an accumulation of cyclin without a necessary induction of DNA synthesis.