Flow cytometric quantification of PCNA content in relation to lymphnode metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression was studied in relation to the frequency of lymphnode metastasis in 65 resected non-small cell lung cancers. PCNA labeling index (LI) % was assayed objectively with flow cytometry. Lymphnode metastasis was found in 13 of 36 adenocarcinomas and in 5 of 29 squamous cell carcinomas. The frequency of lymphnode metastasis correlated positively with tumor size but not with PCNA LI%. In adenocarcinomas, there was no currelation between tumor size and PCNA LI%, but there was no lymphnode metastasis when the tumor was less than 30 mm in diameter and the PCNA LI % was high. It was concluded that PCNA LI% did not correlate with other prognostic factors but showed proliferating potential.