Study on relationship of clinical stages with apoptosis and/or proliferation of tissues in gastric carcinoma

Objective To investigate the relationship between the apoptosis and/or the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) and the clinical stages in gastric cancer. Methods Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling(TUNEL) technique and PCNA immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the apoptosis and the expression of PCNA in tissue of gastric carcinoma in situ.The index of apoptosis(AI), index of PCNA (PI) and the ratio of AI/PI were calculated.Results AI and PI in gastric cancer tissue were (4 3±1 2)%and (49 8±15 9)%respectively, and the ratio of AI/PI was (0 11±0 07),which were significantly different as compared with those of normal gastric mucosa in paragastric cancer(P 0 01). With the advancement of TNM stages, the AI decreased,the PI increased and the ratio of AI/PI decreased gradually,whose differences were all significant (P 0 05). Conclusions The decreased apoptotic cells and/or increased proliferating cells were obviously related to the tumorigenesis and progression of gastric carcinoma. The AI, PI and/or the ratio of AI/PI would become one of the prognostic indicators for advanced gastric carcinoma.