[Correlation study of spontaneous apoptosis, PCNA, and p53 in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the inter-relationships among spontaneous apoptosis, proliferative activity and p53 mutation in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
In squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus, cells with high proliferative activity are apt to undergo spontaneous apoptosis.
Department of Tumor Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Guangdong.
J
J
Cheng
C
C
Li
Z
Z
Shen
D017209:Apoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen