PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN (PCNA) IMMUNOSTAINING IN PEDIATRIC OSTEOSARCOMAS

The levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) are almost neg ligible in long-term quiescent cells and increase dramatically during the cell cycle. Recently, the monoclonal antibodies to PCNA have been used to demonstrate the proliferative component of paraffin-embedded t umor tissues. PCNA has been shown to be available as a simple histolog ic marker of proliferative activity, and the PCNA labeling index has b een correlated with the prognosis of several malignant neoplasms. Form alin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of 18 primary pediatric osteosarcomas were immunostained by using an anti-PCNA monoclonal ant ibody (Dako PCNA PC 10). The relationship between the PCNA index, clin icopathologic features and survival were assessed retrospectively. The mean PCNA index for the whole series was 42%. There was no correlatio n between the PCNA index and age, sex, histopathologic necrosis rate a fter preoperative chemotherapy, metastasis at diagnosis, relapse or pr ogressive disease and survival rates. According to the results with th e limited number of patients in this series, the PCNA labeling index d oes not seem to be a prognostic factor in osteosarcoma.