[Immunohistochemical identification of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in hematological disorders]

We used bone marrow smears to examine how immunohistochemical identification of PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigens) which markers of proliferation, works for various hematopoietic cells in hematological disorders. Short-term fixation with buffered acetone formalin allowed us not only to observe morphosis properly but also to identify the occurrence of PCNA in erythroblasts, megakaryocytes, plasma cells and blasts. For blasts of leukemia patients, we could distinguish more positive cases from less positive ones regardless of the increase or decrease of cells. A change in PCNA due to the existence of neoplastic cells was also observed. These findings suggest that in the future, analyzing the occurrence of PCNA in hematopoietic cells can provide us with immunohistochemically important information on diagnosis of malignancy and follow up.