Cell proliferation, apoptosis and angiogenesis in gastric cancer and its hepatic metastases.
OBJECTIVE
The levels of cell proliferation, apoptosis and angiogenesis were compared histochemically in gastric cancer and its hepatic metastases.


METHODS
Tissue samples were taken from 7 patients with gastric cancer associated with synchronous and/or metachronous hepatic metastases. In the 7 gastric cancers and in 4 synchronous and 4 metachronous hepatic metastases, Ki-67 immunostaining was performed to measure the labeling index (Ki-67 LI). Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling was performed to measure the apoptotic index, and immunostaining for factor VIII-related antigen was performed to measure the microvessel density.


RESULTS
The Ki-67 LI was higher in the gastric cancer and the metachronous hepatic metastasis than in the synchronous hepatic metastasis (primary lesions vs. synchronous foci vs. metachronous foci: 47.1% vs. 39.3% vs. 48.0%; P < 0.05). The apoptotic index was lower in the gastric cancer and the metachronous hepatic metastasis than in the synchronous hepatic metastasis (3.50% vs. 5.01% vs. 2.64%; P < 0.05). The microvessel density was higher in the gastric cancer and the metachronous hepatic metastasis than in the synchronous hepatic metastasis (36.0 vs. 22.2 vs. 34.2; P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The present results suggest that tumor growth as indicated by cell proliferation, apoptosis and angiogenesis is less vigorous in synchronous hepatic metastasis than in primary lesion and/or metachronous hepatic metastasis.
Koide
Naohiko
N
Second Department of Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Asahi, 3-1-1, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan. surgery2@hsp.md.shinshu-u.ac.jp
Nishio
Akihito
A
Hiraguri
Manabu
M
Shimada
Ko
K
Shimozawa
Nobuhiko
N
Hanazaki
Kazuhiro
K
Kajikawa
Shoji
S
Adachi
Wataru
W
Amano
Jun
J
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D014841:von Willebrand Factor