Proliferating cell nuclear antigen in adenoid cystic carcinomas of the head and neck

This retrospective study was performed on formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens from 50 patients with adenoid cystic carcinomas to investigate if proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) correlated with DNA ploidy and S-phase value. Moreover, we have analysed whether PCNA could be used in the prediction of treatment failures, i.e. inability to eradicate the disease or recurrences. The PCNA expression showed values ranging from 0-78%. The mean PCNA value for DNA aneuploid and DNA diploid tumours were 9.5% and 4.8% respectively. No correlation was found between PCNA expression and S-phase value. Nor did we find any relation between the PCNA expression and treatment failure. Our results indicate that PCNA expression of archival material from adenoid cystic carcinomas is not a reliable prognostic factor.