[Frequency of apoptotic cells and BAX positive cells in the lymph nodes of colorectal cancer patients with metastasis and micrometastasis].
It is regarded that the presence of micrometastatic(isolated) cancer cells is a forerunner of metastasis. We classified advanced colorectal cancers into 3 groups such as metastasis group in which distinct metastasis was identified in lymph nodes by HE stain, micrometastasis group which was negative for metastasis by HE stain but positive for micrometastasis by immunostain using antibody for cytokeratin, and non-metastasis group which was negative for both stains. We investigated proliferative activity of cells and frequency of apoptotic cells in the lymph nodes from each group. The frequency of apoptotic cells in the metastasis group was significantly lower than the other groups (p < 0.02), and correlated with expression of BAX protein. In conclusion, frequencies of apoptotic cells and BAX positive cells in the nodes of metastasis group were significantly lower than micrometastasis group. And it was suggested that those changes were correlated with inflow of isolated cancer cells and formation of metastatic foci in the lymph nodes, and may reflected the difference of immunological activity against cancer cells.
Ikeda
Satoshi
S
Department of Pathology, Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital, Tsuchiura 300-0053.
Kimura
Hiroshi
H
Shibata
Toshikatsu
T
D017209:Apoptosis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494826:BAX protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein