[An immunohistochemical study of the proliferating activity of ameloblastic fibroma and ameloblastic fibrosarcoma]

Six cases of ameloblastic fibroma (AF) and three cases of ameloblastic fibrosarcoma (AFS) were immunohistochemically investigated with a proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) monoclone antibody. Data on the PCNA labeling index (LI) of both epithelial and mesenchymal components were analyzed. The results showed that the PCNA LI of mesenchymal component of AFS (40.8%) was significantly higher than that of AF (3.2%) (P < 0.01) and that of the epithelial component of AFS (5.3%) was significantly lower than that of the mesenchymal one of AFS (P < 0.01). The results suggested that PCNA LI be a useful marker for the differentiation diagnosis of AF and AFS.