The role of cell proliferating nuclear antigen on predicting the recurrence of postoperative pituitary adenomas

Objective To study the factors associated with the recurrence of pituitary adenomas after surgery. Methods Ninety cases including 45 recurrent cases and 45 non recurrent cases with follow up from 10 to 20 years were studied. All the patients clinical feature and index of tumor cell proliferating rate were investigate. Results Clinical feature showed that there was significant difference between two groups in tumor size, rate of complete tumor removal, percentage of necrosis, cyst components and apoplexy of the tumor tissue. Immunohisto chemical staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki 67 nuclear antigen was applied for cell kinetic research. A high proliferating index (PCNA Index and Ki 67 Index) of tumor cell was strongly associated with recurrence. Conclusions The tumor cell proliferating index could serve as one of objective and precise tools for prognostic prediction of pituitary adenomas.