Correlation study of spontaneous apoptosis, PCNA, and p53 in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma
Cheng, J.; Li, C.; Shen, Z.
Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi 20(6): 415-417
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0253-3766 PMID: 10920931 Document Number: 493031
To investigate the inter-relationships among spontaneous apoptosis, proliferative activity and p53 mutation in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma. In 30 previondy untreated patients with esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma, tissues were examined for apoptosis by in-situ TUNEL, PCNA by immunohistochemistry, p53 mutation by PCR-SSCP and immunohistochemistry. The number of apoptotic cells per 10 low-power microseopic fields was taken as the apoptotic index. Apoptotic index of cells with high proliferative activity was significantly higher than that of cells with low proliferative activity (P < 0.05). In tumors with p53 gene mutation, apoptotic index of cells with high proliferative activity and low proliferative activity was significantly different (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in apoptotic index in tumors positive and negative for p53 mutation as examined by PCR-SSCP or immunohistochemistry (P > 0.05). In squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus, cells with high proliferative activity are apt to undergo spontaneous apoptosis.