To assess the proliferative activity of renal cell carcinoma (RCC-A) in patients with acquired cystic disease of the kidney (ACDK) after long-term hemodialysis, we analyzed cell cycle, DNA ploidy, and S-phase fraction by flow cytometry (FCM) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling index by immunohistochemistry. The data were compared with those of typical RCC (tRCC). Sixteen (88.9%) of 18 RCC-As showed a diploid pattern. The values of cells at each phase in the cell cycle in RCC-A group (S, 4.36% + 2.16%; G2M, 5.06% + 1.90%; S+G2M, 9.41% + 2.81%; P <.05) were significantly different from those of tRCCs (S, 8.91% + 6.58%; G2M, 8.77% + 5.73%; S+G2M; 17.67% + 7.61%). The PCNA labeling index was statistically significantly lower in the RCC-As (24.01% +/- 13.4%; P <.05) than in tRCCs (42.27% +/- 26.1%). These results indicate that the RCC-As are less proliferative than tRCC and are consistent with the observation that RCC-As are less aggressive neoplasms.
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