The Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Index in Breast Aarcinomas does not Correlate with Mitotic Index and Estrogen Receptor Immunoreactivity

Abstract

To investigate the expression of a marker of cell proliferation (PCNA/Cyclin) and itsputative relationship with bistological grading, mitotic index and estrogen receptor immunoreactivity, we studied twenty-seven cases of invasive breast carcinoma in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. The PCNA and estrogen receptor were detected by the PC10 and H 222 monoclonal antibodies respectively, using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. The median value of PCNA index was 20.9% with a range from 1.4 to 84.2%. We did not find any significant relationship between PCNA index and the bistological grading, mitotic index and estrogen receptor immunoreactivity. We conclude that PCNA detected by the monoclonal antibody PC 10 in formalin-fixed material looks at present unrealiable as a proliferation marker in breast carcinoma. © 1994, Gustav Fischer Verlag · Stuttgart · Jena · New York. All rights reserved.