[The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in breast phylloides cystosarcoma and its significance].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in breast phylloides cystosarcoma and its clinicopathological signification.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry (SP method) with monoclonal antibodies PC10 against PCNA was performed in 100 cases of phylloides cystosarcoma and 39 cases of adenofibroma.

RESULTS

The positive rate of PCNA in phylloides cystosarcoma was 86%. The average PCNA index (PI) of phylloides cystosarcoma was significantly different among every histologic grading (F = 85.33, P < 0.01). The degree of differentiation was lower, the PI was higher. The PI was closely correlated with histologic grading (r's = 0.77). The PI in grade I phylloides cystosarcoma was higher than that in the group of adenofibroma with abundant mesenchymal cells (t = 3.42, P < 0.01). There was only a low correlation between PI and mitotic figures in phylloides cystosarcoma (r = 0.39).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the detection of PCNA has considerable practical value in reflecting the proliferation of activity of phylloides cystosarcoma, assisting the pathologists to make histologic grading; distinguishing the malignancy from benign ones (differential diagnosis) and evaluating the prognosis.