Proliferation in pituitary adenomas: measurement by MAb KI 67

The monoclonal antibody MAb KI 67 reacts with a nuclear antigen throughout the entire cell cycle and allows easy evaluation of proliferating tumour cells on routinely prepared smear and frozen sections. 120 pituitary adenomas were investigated by use of the monoclonal antibody KI 67 in a two-step avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) technique. The KI 67 labelling index (LI) ranged in all adenomas from 0.2 to 4.6%. In 90 cases of transphenoidally operated adenomas the dura of the sella floor was investigated histologically. Adenomas with histologically proven dural infiltration showed a statistically significant higher KI 67 LI (p less than 0.001) compared to non-invasive adenomas.