DETECTION OF PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN IN GLIOMAS AND ADJACENT RESECTION MARGINS

WE DESCRIBE A technique for estimating the number of proliferating cel ls in gliomas and adjacent resection cavities after tumor removal. Pro liferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a nuclear protein associated with the cell cycle. Anti-PCNA antibody staining provides a semiquant itative estimate of the number of proliferating cells found in fixed t issue embedded in paraffin. The extent of the staining of tumor cells of glioblastoma multiforme, anaplastic astrocytomas, low-grade gliomas , and other lesions of the brain with anti-PCNA antibody is correlated with the histological diagnosis. In addition, the labeling of the mar gins after resection of gliomas and other lesions with anti-PCNA antib ody is also associated with the histological diagnosis of the lesion. This technique may be useful in estimating the ''biological'' extent o f resection and in predicting the recurrence patterns of gliomas.