Analysis of p53 expression and proliferative assessment using PCNA in localized prostate carcinoma

The surgical specimens from 51 men submitted to radical prostatectomy for l ocalized prostate cancer were examined by immunohistochemistry using prolif eration cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) monoclonal antibody to evaluate the pro liferative index (PI). The relationship between PI, biological variables an d p53 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. PI was low in invasive localized prostate carcinoma (mean, 12.4%) and the incidence of PCNA-positive cells was significantly higher in tumors with p53 expression (P = 0.0226). There was no statistical difference in PCNA values when biol ogical parameters such as Gleason score, tumor volume, extraprostatic invol vement, seminal vesicle infiltration or lymph node metastasis were consider ed. We conclude that proliferative activity is usually low in prostate carc inoma but is correlated with p53 immune staining, indicating that p53 is im portant in cell cycle control in this neoplasm.