Prolilerating Cell Nuclear Antigen Labeling Index in Early Gastric Cancer Using Preoperative Biospy Specimens

Kiyoshi Maeda, Yong-Suk Chung, Naoyushi Onoda, Yasuyuki Kato, Yuichi Arimoto, Atsunori Nitta, Michio Sowa

First Department of Surgery, Osaka City University Medical School

The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was investigated by immunohistochemical study in 82 early gastric cancer patients to estimate the correlation between the proliferation kinetics and the depth of invasion, or the lymph node metastasis. PCNA labeling index in cases with submucosal invasion (sm cancer) was significantly higher than in cases with mucosal invasion (m cancer). Also, in patients with lymph node metastasis, labeling index was significantly higher than in those without lymph node metastasis. Therefore, the PCNA labeling index may be useful as a parameter of depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, six sm cancer patient with lymph node metastasis had high PCNA labeling index (≥40%), and there was no lymph node metastasis in cases with low PCNA labeling index (<30%). As a result of this study, we conclude that reduced radical gastrectomy can be applied for patients with low PCNA labeling index.

Key words
proliferatig cell nuclear antigen, early gastric cancer, lymph node metastasis, reduced radical gastrectomy

Reprint requests
Kiyoshi Maeda First Department of Surgery, Osaka City University Medical School
1-5-7 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka, 545 JAPAN

Accepted
September 8, 1993

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