THE ASSESSMENT OF PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN (PCNA) IMMUNOSTAINING IN THE UTERINE CERVIX AND CERVICAL SQUAMOUS NEOPLASIA

This is a retrospective study, in which PC10, a monoclonal antibody ag ainst proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was used in the assess ment of 20 cases of FIGO stage IB cervical carcinoma, 30 cases of CIN, 10 cases of koilocytosis and 20 cases in which the transformation zon e was histologically normal. The results showed that in the normal tra nsformation zone the proliferative compartment was confined to the fir st 1-2 suprabasal cell layers. In CIN the pattern of staining correspo nded to the grade of the lesion. In viral wart lesions occasional koil ocytes demonstrated strong nuclear staining. In all cases of stage IB cervical carcinoma the PC10 index was high, irrespective of tumor grad e response to treatment.