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Apoptosis and its correlation with proliferative activity in rectal cancer
Author(s) -
Kim YoungHo,
Lee Jun Haeng,
Chun Hokyung,
Nam SeokJin,
Lee WooYong,
Song Sang Yong,
Kwon O Jun,
Hyun Jae Geun,
Sung In Kyung,
Son Hee Jung,
Rhee PoongLyul,
Kim Jae J.,
Paik Seung Woon,
Rhee Jong Chul,
Choi Kyoo Wan
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.10063
Subject(s) - medicine , apoptosis , colorectal cancer , correlation , cancer research , oncology , cancer , genetics , biology , geometry , mathematics
Background and Objectives Alterations in the normal control of apoptosis and cell proliferation are important factors in multistep colorectal carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of apoptosis and cell proliferation in rectal cancers and to examine their relationship to clinicopathological variables and expression of bcl‐2 and p53. Methods Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)‐mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining and immunohistochemical staining for Ki‐67, bcl‐2, and p53 were performed on paraffin‐embedded tissue samples of 57 rectal cancers. Results There was a positive linear correlation between apoptotic index (AI) and proliferative index (PI) (γ = 0.276, P = 0.038). Both apoptosis and cell proliferation were more frequently found in rectal cancers with lymph node metastasis ( P = 0.045 and 0.010, respectively). However, the ratio of AI and PI was not different by nodal status. There was no association between Dukes stage and AI or PI. The frequency of apoptosis was inversely related to the expression of bcl‐2, but was not related to the p53 status of rectal cancer. There were no association between cell proliferation and the expression of bcl‐2 or p53. Conclusions Our results suggest that the susceptibility to apoptosis in rectal cancer is clearly related to the proliferative activity and high turnover rate of tumor cells may contribute to lymph node metastasis. J. Surg. Oncol. 2002;79:236–242. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.