EXPRESSION OF PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN (PCNA) IN HUMAN PARATHYROID ADENOMA

Paraffin-embedded sections of parathyroid adenoma from 27 patients wit h primary hyperparathyroidism were examined for the expression of prol iferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). PCNA was expressed on the nucle i of the adenoma cells. The positive rate for PCNA ranged from 0.1% to 2.8% (mean 0.9%). The size of adenomas was not related to the positiv e rate for PCNA, while the preoperative serum calcium level and positi ve rate for PCNA revealed statistically the linear regression (y=0.42 chi-3.96, p<0.05). Mean level of serum calcium level in the group in w hich positive rate of PCNA is more than 1.0% is statistically higher t han that in the group in which positive rate of PCNA is less than 1.0% (p<0.05).