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Quantitative analysis of apoptosis in retinoblastoma
Author(s) -
Tatlipinar Sinan,
Söylemezoglu Figen,
Kiratli Hayyam,
Bilgiç Sevgül
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
clinical and experimental ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.3
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1442-9071
pISSN - 1442-6404
DOI - 10.1046/j.1442-6404.2002.00500.x
Subject(s) - retinoblastoma , medicine , enucleation , tunel assay , apoptosis , necrosis , chemotherapy , radiation therapy , pathology , surgery , immunohistochemistry , biology , biochemistry , gene
Purpose: The rate of apoptosis in retinoblastoma (Rb) and the factors that may influence this rate, such as therapy prior to surgery, amount of necrosis in tumour tissue, differentiation and laterality of the tumour, were investigated. Methods: Thirty‐one specimens (25 enucleation, six exenteration) with Rb were studied. Prior to final surgery, three patients received systemic chemotherapy, one intravitreal chemotherapy, one transpupillary thermotherapy, one external beam radiotherapy and one high‐dose oral methylprednisolone therapy. The apoptotic index (AI,%) was calculated by counting at least 1000 cells under light microscopy (× 100) using TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labelling) method. Results: The mean AI was 2.75 ± 1.2. No statistically significant association was observed between rate of apoptosis and the presurgical treatment, extent of necrosis, tumour differentiation and laterality. Conclusion: Apoptosis is an important mechanism of cell death, and may be a limiting factor for tumour progression. In this study, the rate of apoptosis was not affected by any of the studied parameters.