Faculty Collaboration Database

Predicting metastasis of pheochromocytomas using DNA flow cytometry and immunohistochemical markers of cell proliferation: A positive correlation between MIB-1 staining and malignant tumor behavior. Cancer 1999 Oct 15;86(8):1583-9

Date

10/20/1999

Pubmed ID

10526289

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0033570066 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   77 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the absence of metastases, there are no reliable microscopic features that distinguish malignant from benign pheochromocytomas. Because a common feature of malignancy is the loss of cell cycle regulation and normal growth arrest, the authors hypothesized that analysis of the cell cycle could be used to aid in the diagnosis of malignant pheochromocytoma.

METHODS: Cell cycle analysis of archival samples of 51 pheochromocytomas (40 sporadic, 11 familial) from 45 patients, including 6 malignant and 45 benign tumors, was conducted. Flow cytometry data and immunohistochemistry for markers of cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA] and MIB-1 [Ki-67]) were correlated with the authors' clinical data base records, with a mean follow-up of 66 months.

RESULTS: No correlation of DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction by flow cytometry, or PCNA with malignancy was observed. Staining for the MIB-1 nuclear proliferation marker was positive in 3 of 6 (50%) of the malignant pheochromocytomas and negative in all 45 benign tumors (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to some previous reports, a diploid DNA pattern does not necessarily predict benign behavior of pheochromocytoma. In this study, cell cycle analysis and, in particular, assessment of the MIB-1 nuclear proliferation marker was useful in the histologic evaluation of pheochromocytoma, as MIB-1 was expressed only in malignant tumors.

Author List

Brown HM, Komorowski RA, Wilson SD, Demeure MJ, Zhu YR

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms
Adult
Aged
Biomarkers
Cell Division
Child
DNA, Neoplasm
Female
Flow Cytometry
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Ki-67 Antigen
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Pheochromocytoma
Ploidies
Prognosis
Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen