Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining in Helicobacter pylori infection : Impact of eradication

Despite the fact that the association of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)with an increased risk of gastric cancer has been well documented, the exact mechanisms of this association have not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present prospective study was to contribute to the exploration of these mechanisms by studying the relationship between H. pylori infection and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining in endoscopic biopsies in gastric antrum. Furthermore, we examined the impact of H. pylorieradication on this relationship. We studied 28 H. pyloripositive patients and the results were compared with 22 endoscopically and histologically normal H. pylorinegative patients (control group) who were comparable to the H. pyloripositive group for age and sex. In addition all H. pyloripositive patients were examined before and after treatment aiming to eradicate H. pylori. In the H. pylori(+) patients the median PCNA index was 35 (range 8-58) and this was significantly higher than the respective number in the control group [5.5 (2 14), p