SIGNIFICANCE OF PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN (PCNA) EXPRESSION IN GASTRIC-CANCER IN RELATION TO LYMPH-NODE METASTASIS

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in gastric cancer was evalua ted in relation to lymph node metastasis. A total of 125 gastric cance r patients who underwent gastrectomy were studied immunohistochemicall y. The PCNA-positive rate of the primary lesion with lymph node metast asis (47.6%) was significantly higher than that in those without metas tasis (24.3%, P < 0.0001). The PCNA-positive rate of early gastric can cer was significantly higher in lesions with lymph node metastasis (36 .9%) than in lesions without lymph node metastasis (14.7%). However, t here was no significant difference between lesions with and without ly mph node metastasis in advanced gastric cancer. In addition, the PCNA- positive rate in metastatic lesions (44.6%) was significantly higher t han that in the primary lesion (40.0%, P = 0.001). It is concluded tha t gastric cancer with higher tumor growth activity has a higher rate o f lymph node metastasis. Cancer cells in the metastatic foci of lymph node have a higher proliferating activity than that in the primary les ion. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.