A study of proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in benign, borderline and malignant epithelial tumours of ovary

Borderline epithelial tumours or low malignant potential epithelial tumours of ovary have a better prognosis and hence it is important to distinguish this group from their malignant counterparts. Several studies were done correlate the growth rates of tumours with nuclear proteins that are expressed in proliferating cells. Immunohistochemical stains with monoclonal antibodies against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were used on 51 archival epithelial tumours of ovary. The percentage of PCNA reactivity showed means of 1.1%, 2.3% and 27.7% with benign, borderline tumours and malignant epithelial tumours of ovary. respectively. The % PCNA reactivity was found to be significantly different amongst the three group (p<0.001). Thus , PCNA reactivity can help to differentiate borderline tumours from malignant epithelial tumours of ovary. This is critical when light microscopic appearances are equivocal and therapeutic management is dependent on the diagnosis.