PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Christodoulou

Publications and source records attributed to P Christodoulou.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Patients with horizontal gaze palsy and progressive scoliosis due to ROBO3 E319K mutation have both uncrossed and crossed central nervous system pathways and perform normally on neuropsychological testing.

BACKGROUND: Horizontal gaze palsy and progressive scoliosis (HGPPS) is caused by mutations of the ROBO3 gene, which encodes a receptor associated with axonal guidance during development. Although there is evidence for uncrossed cuneatal and corticospinal tracts in HGPPS, it is unclear whether other central nervous system pathways are involved. OBJECTIVE: To study two patients with HGPPS homozygotic for the ROBO3 E319K mutation using a variety of neurophysiological and neuropsychological tests. METHODS: A battery of neuropsychological tests was applied to assess various cognitive and perceptual functions. The corticospinal, somatosensory and auditory pathways were evaluated using appropriate neurophysiological tests. To access motor pathways to the neck muscles, electromyographic recordings were obtained from the sternocleidomastoideus and splenius capitis muscle during active head rotation. RESULTS: Both patients performed normally on manual dexterity, complex sensory and visuospatial functions, reading and general intelligence tests. Motor evoked potentials in both patients showed uncrossed corticospinal tracts for the extremities, although in one patient, electromyography indicated pyramidal tract crossing for the neck muscles. Although somatosensory evoked potentials showed uncrossed somatosensory fibres subserving proprioception and light touch, right median nerve somatosensory evoked potential in one patient indicated a partial lemniscal crossing. Sympathetic skin response and blink reflex showed a midline crossing of the spinothalamic and quintothalamic tracts. Brain stem auditory evoked potentials indicated a lack of crossing in the level of the trapezoid body. CONCLUSIONS: Our patients with the ROBO3 E319Kappa mutation show normal perceptual and cognitive functions and have both crossed and uncrossed motor, sensory and auditory pathways.

Cognition↗
PubMed2002

Prognostic implications of microvessel morphometry in diffuse astrocytic neoplasms.

Astrocytic brain tumours, particularly malignant astrocytomas, are recognized to be highly vascular neoplasms with potent angiogenic activity. Recent research has shown that quantification of microvessel density (MVD), as a measure of the degree of angiogenesis, constitutes a strong prognostic indicator in patients with astrocytomas. However, the significance of other morphometric aspects of microvessel network has not been tested so far. In this report, histological sections from 70 astrocytomas (grades II to IV), immunostained for CD34, were evaluated by image analysis for the quantification of MVD, total vascular area (TVA), and microvascular branching, as well as several morphometric parameters related to vessel size or shape. Minor axis length increased with grade (P = 0.045) but MVD and TVA presented a peak in grade III (P = 0.033 and P < 0.001, respectively). Size and shape related parameters affected survival in univariate analysis of grade IV and grades II/III, respectively. In multivariate analysis, only branching counts, along with age and grade, were the independent predictors of survival. Although MVD, TVA and branching counts were adversely related to disease-free survival in grades II and III (univariate analysis), only TVA remained statistically significant in multivariate analysis. It is concluded that TVA and branching counts are prognostically more informative than MVD for patients with diffuse astrocytic tumours.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Morphometric microvascular characteristics predict prognosis in superficial and invasive bladder cancer.

Recent research has shown that neovascularization, quantitated by microvessel density (MVD), constitutes a strong prognostic indicator in patients with invasive urothelial carcinomas. These studies, however, have focused only on MVD as the only factor reflecting angiogenesis in transitional-cell carcinomas (TCCs). The objective of this report was to evaluate multiple morphometric microvascular characteristics besides MVD in superficial and muscle-invasive TCCs separately, to provide a better approach to the relationship between angiogenesis, clinicopathological parameters, and prognosis. Histologic sections from 115 TCCs [35 superficial (T1) and 80 muscle-invasive] were immunostained for CD31 and evaluated using image analysis for the quantitation of MVD, area, total vascular area, major axis length, minor axis length, perimeter, compactness, shape factor, and Feret diameter. Patients were followed-up until death (n=31) or for an average of 42.2 months (median 38.5 months). MVD increased with progressing T category (P=0.049) but area (P=0.033), major axis length (P=0.022), perimeter (P=0.043), and Feret diameter (P=0.042) were highest in T2 tumors. Area was the single independent predictor of adverse significance in T1 TCCs, whereas for muscle-invasive tumors, survival was independently predicted by MVD. Regarding disease-free survival in superficial tumors, the single significant independent parameter was compactness, whereas area was an independent favorable indicator of disease-free survival for patients with invasive TCCs. It is concluded that the prognostic significance of neovascularization is better assessed by area and shape-related morphometric characteristics, whereas MVD becomes influential only with regard to overall survival of patients with invasive tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Mitosin and DNA topoisomerase IIalpha: two novel proliferation markers in the prognostication of diffuse astrocytoma patient survival.

The expression of two novel proliferation-associated markers, mitosin and topoisomerase IIalpha (Topo IIalpha), was evaluated immunohistochemically in consecutive paraffin sections from 60 diffuse astrocytomas (grades 2 to 4) in relation to clinicopathologic parameters, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67 (MIB-1) expression and survival. The percentage of mitosin and Topo IIalpha-positive cells (LI) increased with grade and Ki-67 LI, but could not discriminate between grade 3 on the one hand and grades 2 or 4 on the other hand. In 51% of cases, Ki-67 LI exceeded Topo IIalpha LI, especially within grade 4. Topo IIalpha and mitosin expression was adversely related to overall and disease-free survival in the entire cohort and in grades 2/3. However, only Topo IIalpha LI affected disease-free survival in grade 4 tumors. Multivariate analysis selected only mitosin LI along with the age of the patient, as the independent parameters predicting overall survival, whereas Topo IIalpha emerged as the single independent predictor of disease-free survival. It is concluded that the proliferative potential of astrocytomas, as measured by mitosin and Topo IIalpha immunostaining, conveys useful prognostic information, in addition to that obtained by standard clinicopathologic parameters.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed2001

Prognostic implications of aberrations in p16/pRb pathway in urothelial bladder carcinomas: a multivariate analysis including p53 expression and proliferation markers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic value of the expression of two negative regulators of the cell cycle, namely CDKN2/INK4a gene product (p16) and retinoblastoma gene product (pRb), in urinary bladder cancer in relation to clinicopathological parameters, proliferative fraction and p53 protein accumulation. METHODS: Paraffin sections from 139 patients with urothelial carcinomas were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies to p16 (F12), pRb (PMG3-245), p53 (DO1), PCNA (PC10) and Ki-67 (MIB-1). RESULTS: Diminished p16 and pRb expression occurred in 29 and 74% of cases, respectively, being associated with advanced stage but not with histological grade, papillary status or proliferation rate. In most cases (53%) with some fault in the p16/pRb pathway, only one gene was affected. A double-negative p16/pRb phenotype was comparatively uncommon (25%) and was usually seen in T3-T4 tumours. In survival analysis (either univariate or multivariate) aberrant p16 expression was an adverse prognostic parameter only in T3-T4 tumours. In contrast, the abnormal p16/pRb and p53/p16 phenotypes were linked to a diminished overall and disease-free survival (univariate analysis); p53/p16 abnormal expression was also found to be an independent predictor of reduced survival in muscle-invasive tumours, while proliferation markers were the only parameters with independent significance in superficial (Ta-T1) tumours. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that lack of p16 immunoexpression, when combined with p53 accumulation, plays an important role in determining the clinical outcome in muscle-invasive urothelial carcinomas.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Apoptosis in bladder carcinomas detected with monoclonal antibody to single-stranded DNA: relation to cell cycle regulators and survival.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of baseline apoptosis in relation to p27(Kip1), p53, and p21(Cip1) expression, proliferation status, standard clinicopathologic parameters, and patient outcome. Cell cycle regulators and apoptotic cell death have been implicated in tumor aggressiveness in many human malignancies. Their interaction, however, in the prognosis of patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder has not yet received intense scrutiny. METHODS: Apoptotic fractions were quantified immunohistochemically by means of a novel monoclonal antibody recognizing single-stranded DNA regions in apoptotic nuclei in 103 paraffin-embedded primary TCC specimens. Proliferative activity was expressed as the percentage of Ki-67 positive cells (Ki-67 index). Tissue specimens were also stained for p27(Kip1), p53, and p21(Cip1) proteins. Patients were followed up until death (n = 30) or for an average of 40 months (median 36). RESULTS: The apoptotic index increased with grade, T stage, nonpapillary status, proliferative activity, and p53 expression and was inversely related to p27(Kip1) and independently to p21(Cip1) expression. A negative correlation was found between p27(Kip1) expression and proliferation. The increased apoptotic index had an adverse impact on overall and disease-free survival (univariate analysis) and, along with T stage, was an independent predictor in muscle-invasive TCC. CONCLUSIONS: An increased apoptotic rate, increased proliferative activity, and decreased p21(Cip1) expression are independently interrelated in TCC. More importantly, the assessment of apoptotic potential appears to be more informative than standard prognosticators in predicting overall survival in patients with muscle-invasive TCC.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Bronchoscopy for foreign body removal in children. A review and analysis of 210 cases.

OBJECTIVE: A foreign body aspiration in the tracheobronchial tree is a dangerous and common medical emergency in childhood, with serious and potentially lethal consequences. It must be suspected in children with a suggestive history, even though the clinical symptoms or radiographic findings are not pathognomonic for foreign body aspiration. METHODS: In this study 210 pediatric cases, with a suggestive history of foreign body aspiration undergoing bronchoscopy in the last 8 years in the department, were reviewed. In all cases bronchoscopy was performed under general anesthesia using a Storz ventilation bronchoscope with distal cold light illumination. RESULTS: In 130 patients a foreign body was discovered, in 17 cases pus was aspirated and in 63 cases there were no findings. Seventy-eight (60%) foreign bodies were found in the right main bronchus, 43 (33.1%) in left main bronchus, seven (5.4%) in both bronchi and two (1.5%) were found in the subglottic area. The incidence of bronchoscopy during the last 8 years was 28 procedures per 100000 children population per year in the island of Crete. CONCLUSION: More attention should be given to the need for a careful history and the use of radiographs as supplemental information to make the decision to perform a bronchoscopy. The parents, also, should pay attention not to allow children dry fruits and small toys, as well as, teaching their children to avoid any physical or emotional activity while having a full mouth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Cell cycle regulators in bladder cancer: a multivariate survival study with emphasis on p27Kip1.

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) prevent cyclin-dependent kinases from phosphorylating critical substrates such as retinoblastoma gene protein (pRb), hence blocking the cascade of events leading to cell proliferation. Currently, the list of CKIs includes p21WAF1/Cip1, p27Kip1, p57Kip2 (the Cip/Kip family), p15/ INK4b, p16/INK4a, p18/INK4c, and p19/INK4d (the INK4 family). Among them, p27 plays a crucial role linking extracellular growth-regulatory signals to progression to or exit from the cell cycle. Unlike p53, p16, and Rb, mutations in Kip1 and WAF1 genes are distinctly rare in bladder cancer. We analyzed immunohistochemically the expression of p27 and other interacting G1 proteins (ie, p21, p16, pRb, p53) in 120 consecutive cases of transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs) and related it to proliferation rate, clinicopathologic parameters, and survival. p27 levels were significantly higher in low-grade (P = .001), superficial (Ta-T1) (P = .001), papillary (P < .001), and slowly proliferating TCCs (rs = -0.235, P = .05). p27 also positively correlated with p16 expression (rs = 0.212, P = .05). In univariate analysis, decreased p27 expression was associated with poor overall (P = .0109) and postrelapse (P = .0344) survival, especially if combined to increased Ki-67 expression (P = .0004 and P = .036, respectively). Furthermore, in multivariate analysis, Ki-67/p27 status had the strongest bearing on the overall survival of muscle-invasive TCCs (P = .0019). Our results indicate that low p27 expression is more common in poorly differentiated muscle-invasive TCCs and is a major player in cell cycle control in these neoplasms. More importantly, the combined Ki-67/p27 expression provides prognostic information beyond that provided by conventional parameters or other cell cycle-related proteins, concerning overall survival in muscle-invasive TCCs.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

WAF1/p21 protein expression is an independent prognostic indicator in superficial and invasive bladder cancer.

The inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases WAF1 gene product p21 is able to arrest mammalian cell cycle by mediating p53 and other factors. The prognostic value and interrelationships between p21 expression and various parameters in bladder cancer have not been fully elucidated. We retrospectively investigated the immunohistochemical expression of p21 protein in consecutive paraffin sections from 131 transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs) and related it to p53 protein expression, clinicopathologic parameters, proliferative fraction, and survival. Positivity was displayed in 45% of cases, among which one fourth was accompanied by p53 accumulation. p21 expression was statistically related to advanced T category. No association was shown between p21 and p53 or proliferation rate. Low grade invasive TCCs tended to be more often p21 positive than high grade invasive TCCs. Most superficial tumors displayed neither p21 nor p53 expression, whereas the combined phenotypes p53/p21+ and p53+/p21- predominated among invasive tumors. P21 labeling index emerged by multivariate analysis as the single independent indicator of shortened overall (P = 0.0294) and disease-free (P = 0.0414) survival in superficial TCCs. Conversely, in invasive tumors, loss of p21 expression was a predictor of shortened disease-free survival (P = 0.0234) and was associated with poor outcome when accompanied by p53 accumulation (P = 0.0033). In conclusion, our results indicate that p21 activation occurs early in tumorigenesis, appears associated with invasiveness, and is capable of cell cycle control in TCCs mostly through p53-dependent pathways. Finally, p21 expression, alone or in combination with p53 and irrespective of other clinicopathologic parameters, plays distinct roles in determining clinical outcome in superficial and invasive tumors, suggesting that urothelial bladder cancer represents two different diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Death related to midazolam overdose during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

We report a midazolam-related death that occurred during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The acute intoxication due to midazolam overdose was confirmed by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the blood samples taken from the patient in the intensive care unit (2.8 microg/ml) and postmortem (2.4 microg/ml). The case strongly emphasizes the necessity of the precautions that should be taken when midazolam is intravenously administered.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
PubMed1999

Carbamazepine levels in head hair of patients under long-term treatment: a method to evaluate the history of drug use.

Carbamazepine (CBZ) concentrations were determined in the sections of head hair from 40 patients (22 males and 18 females), ages 5 to 81, who were receiving this drug systemically. Hair treatment included dissolution, liquid phase extraction procedures, and immunoassay (Abbott TDx) or high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analytical techniques. The mean values of CBZ levels in the hair from the 1st section (close to hair root) to the 5th section for female patients were 26.82, 19.18, 17.28, 15.09, and 14.62 micrograms/g according to HPLC measurements. Immunoassay gave generally slightly higher results. The mean values of CBZ in the hair sections according to the immunoassay technique were 30.53, 21.90, 19.83, 17.45, and 16.99 micrograms/g, respectively, from the 1st to the 5th sections. The corresponding mean values for male patients by HPLC and immunoassay techniques were 21.97, 17.30, 15.03, 13.02, and 11.21 micrograms/g and 25.98, 20.52, 17.15, 14.87, and 12.31 micrograms/g. Generally, a reduction of drug concentrations in hair from the first to the subsequent segments was observed. Higher amounts of CBZ were deposited in black, untreated hair (e.g., not dyed or permed). CBZ concentrations in hair sections were found to be dependent on the dosage (r = 0.979, p < or = 0.001) but not on the gender. The data indicate the possible use of hair section testing as a marker of the dosage history and the compliance of patients under long-term treatment with CBZ.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Expression of retinoblastoma gene product and p21 (WAF1/Cip 1) protein in gliomas: correlations with proliferation markers, p53 expression and survival.

Using immunohistochemistry we evaluated the expression of two negative regulators of the cell cycle, the retinoblastoma gene product (pRb) and the WAF1/Cip1 gene product (p21), in consecutive paraffin sections from 54 gliomas (49 astrocytomas and 5 oligodendrogliomas) and related it to clinicopathological parameters, proliferative fraction, p53 expression and survival. Survival analysis was restricted to the group of diffuse astrocytomas (48 patients). pRb expression did not correlate with histological type, grade or p53 expression, while a moderately strong correlation existed between pRb expression and the percentages of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and MIB-1-positive cells. In 30% of cases we observed diminished pRb expression (i.e., a low pRb/Ki-67 ratio), irrespective of grade or histological type. p21 protein was elevated in 50% of cases, especially within the higher grades. The percentage of p21-positive cells was not related to histological type or grade but correlated loosely with PCNA and pRb expression. A p53-negative/p21-negative phenotype was characteristic of oligodendrogliomas and low-grade astrocytomas, whereas the p53-positive/p21-positive, p53-positive/p21-negative and p53-negative/p21-positive phenotypes were almost equally distributed among high-grade tumors. In survival analysis (either univariate or multivariate) diminished pRb expression was not a statistically significant prognostic indicator. In contrast, p21 expression emerged as an important indicator of shortened disease-free survival, in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Moreover, the double-positive p53/p21 phenotype tended to be associated with a shorter overall survival. Our results suggest that Rb gene deregulation does not significantly affect prognosis but p21 expression may play an important role in disease-free survival of astrocytoma patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The role of p53, MDM2 and c-erb B-2 oncoproteins, epidermal growth factor receptor and proliferation markers in the prognosis of urinary bladder cancer.

The immunohistological expression of p53 and MDM2 oncoproteins was examined in paraffin embedded tissue from 106 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and was related to various clinicopathological features, the expression of proliferation associated markers (proliferating cell nuclear antigen - PCNA - and Ki-67), c-erb B-2 oncoprotein and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), as well as to survival. MDM2 immunoreactivity was seen in 38% of our cases, and in 14% was accompanied by p53 positive immunohistochemistry. The rate of p53 positivity was associated with grade, stage and papillary status, whereas MDM2 immunopositivity increased with grade and stage (Ta VS T1), and MDM2 labeling index (LI) with stage. MDM2 expression was related to p53 expression and less strongly to proliferation rate (Ki-67 LI). The simultaneous p53 and MDM2 expression was more frequently observed in higher grade and stage tumours. C-erb B-2, EGFR and proliferation marker expression increased with grade, stage and non-papillary configuration. In univariate analysis high grade, solid growth pattern, advanced T-category, cystectomy, EGFR and Ki-67 expression were linked to shorter overall survival but only Ki-67 LI, along with T-category and type of therapy, had independent prognostic value. C-erb B-2 expression and stage were the two independent predictors of disease-free survival and Ki-67 LI and EGFR LI the independent predictors of post-relapse survival. For patients with superficial tumors PCNA LI emerged as the single independent determinator of survival. p53 and MDM2 expression did not appear to have any significant impact on survival, although the simultaneous expression of p53 and MDM2 turned out to be a highly significant parameter of shortened overall survival in univariate analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Fatal and non-fatal outcome by accidental intoxication with paint thinner.

Although poisonings (fatal and non-fatal) due to intentional or accidental acute exposure to toluene or toluene mixture fumes have been previously reported in the literature, several issues concerning lethal doses or lasting post-exposure neuropathological impairments still remain unclear. Two male painters (18 and 30 years old) were accidentally exposed to toxic concentrations of paint diluent fumes containing toluene (TL), acetone (ACT) and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) (60:15:15 w/w/w respectively) during their work in an underground reservoir. Both workers were found unresponsive by colleagues and were immediately transferred to the regional hospital. On admission, the younger man was pronounced dead, while the other remained in the intensive care unit for 3 days and then 4 days in the internal medicine ward. TL, ACT and MEK concentrations in blood samples taken from the survivor on admission were 6.3, 30.6 and 40.5 microg/mL. Postmortem toxicology of the dead worker revealed TL, ACT and MEK blood levels of 12.4, 90.8 and 80.4 microg/mL respectively. The solvent levels in the liver, kidney, lung, brain, testis and gland were also quantified and showed a somewhat similar distribution of the chemicals among these tissues with the highest levels found in the brain and the liver. The fatal and the non-fatal outcome that resulted despite similar intoxication conditions, most probably demonstrates the interindividual tolerance among the painters who also had similar body weights. The surviving painter did not develop any neuropsychological impairment in post-exposure time. The reported case strongly emphasizes the necessity to take precautions when using paint diluents in enclosed spaces.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

MDM2 and p53 expression in gliomas: a multivariate survival analysis including proliferation markers and epidermal growth factor receptor.

p53 and the murine double minute 2 (MDM2) oncoprotein expression was evaluated in paraffin-embedded tissue from 61 patients with central nervous system gliomas (53 astrocytomas and eight oligodendrogliomas) and related to proliferation-associated markers [i.e. proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Ki-67 and nuclear organizer regions (NORs)] and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We used the monoclonal antibodies PC-10, MIB-1, DO-1, 1B1O and EGFR 113 and the colloid silver nitrate (AgNOR) technique. MDM2 and p53 were co-expressed in 28% of cases. A p53-positive/MDM2-negative phenotype was observed in 15% and a p53-negative/MDM2-positive phenotype in 20% of cases. There was a positive correlation of p53 and MDM2 expression with grade and proliferation indices. Univariate analysis in the group of diffuse astrocytomas showed that older age, high histological grade, high PCNA labelling index (LI) and high AgNOR score were associated with reduced overall survival (P < 0.05). p53 LI, Ki-67 LI, AgNOR score, tumour location and grade influenced disease-free survival (P < 0.05), whereas the only parameters affecting post-relapse survival were histological grade and Ki-67 LI (P < 0.1). Multivariate analysis revealed that age, radiotherapy, PCNA LI and p53 LI were the independent predictors of overall survival. p53 LI, Ki-67 LI, MDM2 LI, EGFR LI, grade and type of therapy were independent predictors of disease-free survival, and grade was the only independent predictor of post-relapse survival. Our results indicate that p53 LI and MDM2 LI, EGFR expression as well as proliferation markers (PCNA and Ki-67) are useful indicators of overall and disease-free survival in diffuse astrocytoma patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Death following intentional methyl bromide poisoning: toxicological data and literature review.

A case of fatal poisoning due to ingestion-inhalation of methyl bromide (MeBr) is presented. In previously reported fatalities due to MeBr inhalation, only inorganic bromide levels in biological specimens were reported. Intact MeBr has not been isolated from human tissues following exposure. In the present case, MeBr was detected, confirmed and quantitated in various biological samples by headspace gas chromatography, and the clinical manifestations and autopsy findings are described. Postmortem MeBr peripheral blood concentration was 3.3 micrograms/mL and in subclavian blood was 3.8 micrograms/mL. Lung, brain, adrenal gland, kidney, liver and testis MeBr was 2.9, 3.5, 3.4, 2.6, 1.9 and 2.8 micrograms/g respectively; MeBr in bile was 1.2 micrograms/mL. Inorganic bromide concentrations were 530, 30, 310 and 130 micrograms/g in blood, brain, kidney and adrenal gland respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Assessment of proliferating-cell nuclear antigen immunostaining in soft-tissue tumours: relationship to histological grade and mitotic activity.

The proliferative activity in 70 cases of soft-tissue tumours was estimated immunohistochemically using the monoclonal antibody PC-10, which recognizes proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in paraffin sections. The PCNA index (i.e. the percentage of positive neoplastic nuclei) and to a lesser degree the PCNA count (i.e. the number of positive neoplastic nuclei per ten high-power fields) positively correlated with the malignancy grade (PCNA index: P < 0.001; PCNA count: P < 0.01). However, the range of values of PCNA index and PCNA count was similar between benign and grade I tumours. A statistically significant positive correlation was also established between PCNA index and PCNA count on the one hand and mitotic count on the other, but the correlation coefficient was low (r = 0.351, P < 0.01, and r = 0.290, P < 0.05 respectively). These results indicate that PCNA immunostaining may successfully be used as an adjunct to the conventional histopathological parameters in assessing the malignancy grade in soft-tissue tumours although it is of limited value in distinguishing between benign and grade I tumours.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗