Proliferating cell nuclear antigen as a predictor of therapeutic effect of continuous 5-fluorouracil administration in gastric cancer

The change of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression was examined in three gastric cancer cell lines, MKN28, MKN45 and MKN74, during continuous or bolus exposure to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The cytotoxic effect of 5-FU was almost the same in all the cells. PCNA expression was higher at 24 and 72 h after continuous 5-FU treatment than before treatment. Continuous 5-FU treatment of cells revealed higher expression of PCNA protein and mRNA than did bolus treatment. Flow cytometry revealed that 5-FU increased cell population at the late G1 or S phase 24 and 72 h after treatment. PCNA values at the late G1 and S phase were significantly higher than those at other phases 24 h after treatment. These results suggest that PCNA expression increased due to cell cycle accumulation at late G1 and S phases. Thus PCNA values just after chemotherapy of gastric cancer may be useful in predicting the therapeutic effects of continuous 5-FU administration.