Minichromosome maintenance protein 7: a reliable tool for glioblastoma proliferation index.

At present there is increasing evidence concerning the value of minichromosome maintenance (MCM) protein expression as a novel indicator of proliferation. In the present study, 15 glioblastoma samples, classified according to WHO, were analysed to evaluate the expression of the principal proliferation markers. The samples examined were subdivided into 2 cytological subsets, small cell (SC) or multiforme cell (MC) glioblastoma, according to the predominant cell type defined in individual specimens. MCM7 detected more cells in the cycle than Ki67 and PCNA and all cases of SC glioblastoma, the most aggressive subset, displayed a significant increase of MCM7-stained nuclei versus those stained with Ki67. These results suggest that the cell cycle-associated proteins MCM are not only useful markers of proliferation, but also valid aids for diagnosis in cerebral glioblastoma.