Immunohistochemical evaluation of PCNA and Ki-67 in ameloblastoma

Thirty-two ameloblastoma tissues were immunohistochemically studied using monoclonal anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and anti-Ki-67 antibodies. Positive cells were evaluated and analyzed in relation to the WHO classification, cytological pattern of the outer layer cell, clinical appearance, tumor location, radiographic appearance and patient's age. In regard to the cytological pattern of the outer layer cells, the basal cell type had significantly higher PCNA and Ki-67 (P < 0.05) labeling indices than the cuboidal cell type. The solid type had significantly higher PCNA and Ki-67 (P < 0.05) labeling indices than the cystic and the mixed type. The labeling index of the younger patient was found to be the lowest, the middle age was in the middle and the older patient was the highest. These results indicated that the proliferating activities of ameloblastomas are quite variable, and the evaluations of Ki-67 and PCNA seem to be good indicators to assess the proliferating activity of each type of ameloblastomas.