title: Cell proliferation and apoptosis culminate in early stages of oral oncogenesis.
abstract: Markers of cell proliferation (Ki-67 antigen) and apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-2) were studied in an experimental system of induced oral carcinogenesis in Syrian golden hamsters. Thirty-seven animals were divided into one control group and three experimental groups, which were treated with a carcinogen and sacrificed at 10, 14 and 19 weeks after treatment. The histological status of the lesions in the three experimental groups corresponded well with tumour advancement (from oral mucosal dysplasia to moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma). Tumour sections were studied using monoclonal antibodies against Bax, Bcl-2 and Ki-67 proteins. Pro-apoptotic Bax expression maintained high levels during all stages of oral carcinogenesis. Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression decreased significantly in dysplastic and early invasion lesions and consequently increased almost to normal tissue level in consequent stages. Finally, Ki-67 expression increased sharply in initial stages of oral carcinogenesis, but significantly decreased in later stages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derka
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vairaktaris
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papakosta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vassiliou
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Acil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vylliotis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spyridonidou
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lazaris
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mourouzis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kokkori
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moulavasili
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perrea
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Donta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yapijakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patsouris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D018450:Disease Progression; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein