Relationship between apoptosis and proliferation in pancreatic carcinoma

Objective To investigate the role of apoptosis in pancreatic carcinoma by studying the relationship between apoptosis and proliferation. Methods The apoptotic index (AI), PCNA index (PI) and mitotic index (MI) in situ in 32 cases of pancreatic carcinoma and 14 cases of chronic pancreatitis were detected by in situ end labeling (ISEL), PCNA immunohistochemical staining and HE staining. Results The mean AI(3.37± 2.38 ),PI( 46.68 ±2.29) and MI(0.31±0.12) in pancreatic carcinoma were significantly higher than those in chronic pancreatitis (0.51±0.23,5.08±2.82 and 0.06±0.03 respectively, P 0.001). The ratio of PI to AI (21.16±17.44) in the pancreatic carcinoma was higher than that in chronic pancreatitis (9.60±2.15, P 0.05 ). There was a negative relationship between AI and PI in pancreatic carcinoma. Conclusion The reduction of apoptotic cells and the increase in proliferative cells play an important role in the development of pancreatic carcinoma.