title: Apoptosis and microvessel density in gastric cancer: correlation with tumor stage and prognosis.
abstract: Gastric cancer remains one of the most common human malignancies with a poor prognosis. Apoptosis is known to be a programmed cell death and its inhibition is involved in the unregulated cellular growth that leads to neoplasms. Microvessel density (MVD) has been investigated as a promoting factor for angiogenesis with conflicting results about its relation to survival. The aim of our study was to search a correlation between these factors and some clinicopathological features and prognosis. Identification of apoptotic cells was performed applying the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling technique and recorded as apoptotic index (A.I.), whereas monoclonal antibodies were used for the study of MVD. A significant correlation was found between low and high A.I. and the subgroup of patients in Stages I and II (P < 0.02); 20 per cent of patients with a low A.I. showed an overall survival longer than 5 years versus 44 per cent of patients with an high A.I. (P = 0.041). High MVD was significantly related to the T stage (P = 0.036) and to a poorer 5-year overall survival (P < 0.05). Further studies are required to confirm the role of apoptosis and MVD in the development and progression of gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: University of Rome La Sapienza Second School of Medicine, Sant' Andrea Hospital, General Surgery Ward 3, Rome, Italy. paolo_aurello@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aurello
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bellagamba
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossi Del Monte
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nigri
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cicchini
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ravaioli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramacciato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*