Abstract

Proliferatina cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) is known to be closely correlated with DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Proliferative activities of tumors have recently been consid- ered as one of important prognostic factors in a variety of human cancers. A total of 195 gastric carcinomas was evaluated with immunohistochemical study, using an- tibody(PC 10) with special reference to the correlation between PCNA expression and progno- sis. PCNA expression was assessed semi-quantitatively based on the proportion of tumor cells with immunostained nuclei. There was no significant correlation between PCNA expression and clinicopathological variables such as age, sex, tumor site, size, histologic grade, tumor stage, or the presence of lymph node metastases. To analyse survival, we evaluated disease-free survival and overall survival according to the extent of PCNA expression. No significant correlations between PCNA expression and both disease-free survival and overall survival were found. In conclusion, PCNA expression assessed by semi-quantitative PCNA grading system was not a significant prognostic factor in gastric carcinoma.

• Keywords: Gastric carcinoma, Prognosis, Proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)