Relationship Between Apoptotic Index and Prognostic Factors in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. |
H W Choi, S K Lee, J H Lee, S B Kim |
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Abstract |
OBJECTIVE To determine the relationship between apoptotic index[apoptotic cells/1000 tumor cells, AI], bcl-2, and p53 protein expression and clinicopathologic factors and prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: We obtained 36 paraffin embedded blocks from ovarian tumor patients who were treated in KMC between 1982 to 1994. In 36 patients, 27 patients were epithelial ovarian cancers & patients were low malignancy potentials. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL[=terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick end labeling] method, and p53 and bcl-2 protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis was done by chi-square test, log lank test & Kaplan-Meier curve of SPSS software. RESULTS: Mean AI was 2.99. AI had a negative correlation with histologic grade[p=0.038]. bcl-2 was significantly expressed in serous type tumors[p=0.015]. bcl-2 also correlated negatively with histologic grade[p=0.014]. p53 had a negative correlation with histologic grade[p=0.038]. AI, p53 & bcl-2 was not correlated with age, FIGO stage, tumor size, MI & 5 years survival rate. CONCLUSION: There are no correlation between AI, p53 & bcl-2 protein expression and other prognostic factors except histologic grade. No significant correlation was found between AI & p53, bcl-2 protein expression. Our study has limited value because small number of patients, so we think that further evaluation & study will need to confirm relationship between apoptosis & other factors related with cell cycle. |
Key Words:
Apoptotic index, p53, bcl-2, epithelial ovarian cancer |
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