[Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA/cyclin) in gastric carcinoma in relation to its prognosis]

Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA/Cyclin) in 73 cases of gastric carcinomas and its relationship to prognosis were semiquantitatively analysed by ABC immunoperoxidase method and its clinical application was explored. PCNA staining located in the nuclei of tumor cells. A semiquantitative PCNA grading showed a significant negative correlation with survival of the gastric carcinomas cases (P < 0.01). Survival analysis also presented that the prognosis of patients with intensive expression of PCNA was poor. Generally speaking, the expression of PCNA showed a significant positive correlation with the differentiation degree of the tumor and nodal metastasis (P < 0.05). However, among these cases, the poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas with a weak grade of PCNA expression generally considered as of a high malignant degree and poor prognosis, survived longer. The facts indicated that the in situ detection of PCNA in gastric carcinoma is more objective and reliable in assessing a proper prognosis than that made on the basis of traditional morphological differentiation grading.