[Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in premalignant lesions of laryngeal epithelium]

It is important to study the proliferative activity of cells in the premalignant lesions of laryngeal epithelium. Using PC-10, an antibody to PCNA and a standard immunohistochemical staining, we examined 11 cases of simple hyperplasia of epithelium (SHE), 32 cases of atypical hyperplasia of epithelium (AHE) and 42 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) for expression of PCNA, a protein associated with DNA polymerase delta and DNA replication. The results revealed that the PCNA indices in SHE, AHE and LSCC were 9.57%, 27.33% and 68.05%, respectively. The PCNA indices were 13.79%, 30.84% and 39.94%, in the mild, moderate and severe AHE, respectively. There were significant differences among the SHE, AHE and LSCC. A good correlation was found among different degrees of AHE. The pattern and location of PCNA positive cells in the intraepithelium had diagnostic importance. PCNA might provide a useful tool for studying cell proliferation in situ under normal and pathological conditions.