[Cellular apoptosis, proliferation and bcl-2 Bax expression in colorectal carcinoma and their association with tumor prognosis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between cellular apoptosis, proliferation and bcl-2/bax expression in the tissue of colorectal carcinoma and biological behavior of the tumor.


METHODS
The apoptotic cells index (AI) in situ were identified by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transfer-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistologic staining for Ki-67 proliferation index (KI), bcl-2/bax protein expression was performed on archival material from 77 adenocarcinomas.


RESULTS
The mean AI and KI were 5.3/45.4 in early stage cancer, 5.6/48.7 in non-metastatic cancer, 6.6/55.3 in advanced cancer and 8.9/60.1 in cancer with distant metastasis respectively. There was a positive relationship between the AI and KI in each specimen. bcl-2 and bax was expressed as 54.5%, 74% in carcinoma and highly differentiated carcinoma. In the univariate analysis, significantly longer survival time was observed in the subgroup of bcl-2 positive carcinoma with low AI. In the multivariate analysis, tumor stage, tumor type, KI, and bcl-2 expression were independent risk factors for prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate that abnormally exchanged AI/KI, bcl-2/bax expression appears to be an event associated with tumor progression and apoptosis might also reflect the proliferative activity of human colorectal carcinoma.
Li
L
L
Department of Surgery. First Affiliated Hospital, West-China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041.
Yan
L
L
Liu
Z
Z
Wang
Z
Z
Wen
T
T
Chen
X
X
Huang
G
G
D017209:Apoptosis; D002455:Cell Division; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494826:BAX protein, human; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein