Stage-related differences of mitotic and apoptotic indices, and bcl-2 protein expression in diffusely growing non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
The present study examined whether growth characteristics of diffusely growing non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) may differ as a function of stage. Among 105 NHL of various types and sub-types (REAL [Revised European-American Lymphoma] classification), localized (Ann Arbor pathologic stages I + II) lymphomas exhibited clearly higher indices for mitotic activity, apoptosis and cell turnover, as well as a significantly lower percentage of cells containing immunohistochemically detectable bcl-2 protein, than disseminated (stages III + IV) NHL. A similar pattern emerged when high-grade (Kiel classification) lymphomas only were evaluated. Low-grade NHL showed analogous, but less marked, stage-dependent characteristics, with the exception of median percentages of bcl-2+ cells, which remained comparable in all stages. Our findings are consistent with the notion that dissemination of diffusely growing NHL is usually associated with reduced cell turnover and, in high-grade lymphomas, with the generation of longer-lived cells.
Spina
D
D
Institute of Pathologic Anatomy and Histology, University of Siena, Italy.
Leoncini
L
L
Megha
T
T
Del Vecchio
M T
MT
Minacci
C
C
Poggi
S
S
Pileri
S
S
Tosi
P
P
Kraft
R
R
Laissue
J A
JA
Cottier
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008938:Mitosis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2