PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN (PCNA) EXPRESSION IN FORMALIN-FIXED TISSUE OF NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CARCINOMA

An immunohistochemical study of non-small cell lung carcinoma using PC 1O, a monoclonal antibody against PCNA, was performed on tissues routi nely processed with formalin fixation and paraffin embedding. The PCNA labelling index and mitotic index were determined from sections of th ese tissues. Tumours showed a high mean PCNA labelling index of 53.3%. The mean mitotic index was 10.3/1000 cells. Inter-examiner agreement of mitotic counting was good. A linear correlation between the PCNA la belling index and mitotic index was demonstrated (r = 0.71, P < 0.0000 1). It is concluded that immunohistochemical nuclear labelling with an ti-PCNA on routinely processed tissue is a simple technique for the as sessment of proliferation in non-small cell lung carcinoma.