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.