Spontaneous apoptosis is inversely related to intratumoral microvessel density in gastric carcinoma.
Increasing evidence from experimental studies indicates that apoptosis may be related to angiogenesis in tumor progression. To explore how spontaneous apoptosis correlates with tumor angiogenesis, we measured the apoptotic index (AI) using the ApopTag kit (Oncor) and intratumoral microvessel density using an anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody in 101 cases of gastric carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 labeling index and the expression of p53 were conducted simultaneously. Statistical analysis revealed an inverse correlation between AIs and intratumoral microvessel densities (r = -0.4066, P < 0.0001) and failed to find significant correlations between AI and Ki-67 labeling index, as well as the expression of p53. The results of this study demonstrated for the first time that the incidence of apoptosis in gastric carcinoma is significantly influenced by the extent of neovascularization and suggests that tumor angiogenesis may contribute to a reduction of apoptosis in tumor cells.
Lu
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C
Second Department of Surgery, Fukui Medical School, Matsuoka-Cho, Yoshida-Gun, Japan.
Tanigawa
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N
D017209:Apoptosis; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008833:Microcirculation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53