Original Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1997. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 15, 1997; 3(2): 101-103
Published online Jun 15, 1997. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v3.i2.101
Immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in hepatocellular carcinoma
Dong Wang, Jing-Quan Shi, Feng-Xuan Liu
Dong Wang, MD, Department of Clinical Pathology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 630042, China
Jing-Quan Shi, Department of Pathology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 630042, China
Feng-Xuan Liu, Department of Clinical Pathology, Suthwest Hospital, Third Military University, Chongqing 630042, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Dong Wang, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Pathology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 630042, China
Received: September 13, 1996
Revised: January 31, 1997
Accepted: March 1, 1997
Published online: June 15, 1997
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and its correlation with the mitotic count, histological grade, and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS: PCNA expression was detected immunohistochemically with PC10 monoclonal antibody for 80 cases of HCC. The PCNA labeling index (LI) was assessed by counting the positively-stained nuclei per 500 cells.

RESULTS: PCNA LI ranged from 1.8% to 91.4% (mean = 33.9%) in cancerous tissues, and was significantly related to the tumor size, histological grade, mitotic count and the metastases found in HCC samples.

CONCLUSION: HCC Proliferation activity, as defined by PCNA immunohistochemical analysis, is strongly correlated with tumor invasiveness. These findings hold potential prognostic value for HCC patients.

Keywords: liver neoplasms, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Immunohistochemistry, Antigens, Neoplasm