Applications of the monoclonal antibody PC10 assessment of proliferative grade in cell smears

In view of the increasing need to assess the proliferative activity of hematologic malignancies, slide-based methods to quantify the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were developed and evaluated. Two techniques to evaluate this antigen were adapted to the infiltration level of the disease. The first one is particularly appropriate to massive invasion and is based on the alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase complex (APAAP)method. The second one is reversed for reduced infiltration and uses a double immunofluorescence labeling. One is specific for the target cell to be identified and the other one is specific for the PCNA. These techniques permit an easy and accurate routine evaluation of cell cycle marker expression in hematologic malignancies.