title: Expression of ki-67 antigen and caspase-3 protein in benign lesions and esophageal carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to evaluate apoptosis and cell proliferation alterations in esophageal benign lesions in comparison to esophageal carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry was performed for caspase-3 protein (CPP32) and Ki-67 antigen expression in the esophageal mucosa from patients with Chagas disease (CD) with and without megaesophagus (CM), chronic esophagitis (CE), esophageal carcinoma (ESCC) and in normal mucosa (NM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Ki-67 labeling index (LI) was similar in all groups (range: 30%-48%), having no statistically significant difference among the groups. Positive CPP32 immunostaining was observed with similar frequency in the CD (30.8%), CM (30.4%) and CE (34.8%) groups, but it was increased in the ESCC group (55.5%); however, it was not statistically different from the other groups. No associations among the levels of CPP32 and Ki-67 expression were observed in the various groups, neither among parameters such as age, gender or alcohol and tobacco consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no evident changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis in benign lesions studied.
authors.affiliation: IBILCE/UNESP - Departamento de Biologia, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil - CEP. 15054-000.
authors.forename: Marilanda Ferreira
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bellini
authors.forename: Patrícia Maluf
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Cury
authors.forename: Ana Elizabete
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3