PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN (PCNA) IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN STAGE-IENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA - A NEW PROGNOSTIC FACTOR

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significanc e of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity in tum or cells in patients with endometrial carcinoma. A population of 74 pa tients with FIGO stage I endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometriu m, who underwent primary surgical management, were selected from Janua ry, 1986 to June, 1993 at the Department of Gynecologic and Obstetrics , Ancona University. The archival paraffin blocks from the uterine tum or specimens were recut and assessed for histologic re-examination and PCNA immunostaining (PC 10 monoclonal antibody; Dako, Denmark). A sig nificant increase in PCNA index was observed with respect to nuclear g rade (P<0.001) and depth of myometrial invasion (P<0.001), with the hi ghest percentage values in nuclear grade 3 tumors and in greater than or equal to 50% myometrial invasion. A PCNA index greater than or equa l to 50% was related significantly to disease-recurrence risk (P<0.001 ) and PCNA index seems to be a significant prognostic parameter in sta ge I endometrial carcinoma, for disease-free survival.