Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Expression in Odontogenic Cysts and Ameloblastomas

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the proliferative activity of odontogenic cysts and ameloblastomas.Patients and Methods: Ten radicular cysts, 10 dentigerous cysts, 10 odontogenic keratocysts, 14 ameloblastomas, 5 unicystic ameloblastomas, and 9 recurrent ameloblastomas were immunohistologically stained with antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Immunoreactivity was evaluated by counting cells.Results: Odontogenic keratocysts elicited the highest proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index within the odontogenic cyst group. Most of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells were predominantly found in the suprabasal region of odontogenic keratocysts. Odontogenic keratocysts demonstrated a significantly higher proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index than radicular cysts (p < 0.05), but not higher than dentigerous cysts. In the ameloblastoma group, proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells were preferentially located at the periphery of the ameloblastic islands. Recurrent ameloblastomas showed the highest proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index, while unicystic ameloblastomas showed the lowest labelling index. The differences in the proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index between recurrent ameloblastomas and the other ameloblastoma groups were not statistically significant.Conclusions: The proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index correlated well with the biological behaviour of odontogenic cysts and ameloblastomas, and may be useful as a marker to predict the clinical behaviour of odontogenic lesions.