Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and serum IL-8 product in leiomyomas.

Background: The most prevalent neoplasms of the female genital tract are uterine leiomyomas, a uterine fibroid which rarely turn into cancer. We examined the levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in female patients with Leiomyomas.

Methods: The presence of PCNA and IL-8 were measured in 28 females with Leiomyoma and 20 healthy controls. Tissue PCNA levels were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) method and serum IL-8 levels were measured by an ELISA technique. Age and menopausal stage on Leiomyoma development were also examined.

Results: Forty-eight Iraqi women were divided into 28 uterine Leiomyoma patients of whom leiomyoma tissues, adjacent myometrium and serum samples were collected during hysterectomy. Serum samples were collected from 28 patients and 20 female controls. PCNA was positively expressed in 11 out of 28 (39.2 %) leiomyoma tissues; all 20 normal myometrium were negative. The presence of PCNA was unrelated to age and menopausal stage. The mean level of serum IL-8 was elevated significantly in patients (140 pg/ml) compared to that of control (60 pg/ml; P < 0.05). The IL -8 levels were increased in postmenopausal stage.

Conclusions: Each PCNA; IL-8 showed significantly elevated levels in patients with Leiomyoma.