title: Changes in apoptotic and mitotic activity in rectal carcinoma after short-term cytostatic therapy as possible predictive factors.
abstract: Fifteen patients with rectal adenocarcinoma were endoscopically biopsied and given short-term [5 fluorouracil (5FU) (600 mg/m2) and Ca-Folinate (60 mg/m2) for two days] cytostatic therapy. Seven days later the tumor was resected or a second biopsy was performed. Apoptotic and mitotic indices were determined in the tumor tissue before and after the short-term chemotherapy. The patients were treated thereafter with long-term, intermittent 5 FU administration and followed up clinically for 4-13 months. Three patients showed progression of the disease, twelve improved or showed no tumor progression. An increase of the apoptotic index and decrease of the mitotic index after the short-term cytostatic treatment were seen in the tumor tissue of responder cases. Non-responders showed increase or no change in mitotic activity, and decrease or no change in apoptotic activity. These findings suggest that apoptotic and mitotic response to short-term cytostatic therapy may be additional predictive factor in rectal adenocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Department, St Margit Hospital, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farczádi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szántó
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaszás
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Benyó
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bodnár
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szlobodnyik
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szende
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008938:Mitosis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil