Study on apoptosis and the expression of P53 and PCNA in cervical cancer

Objective:To evaluate apoptosis,the expression of P53,PCNA and its relationship to occurrence and histopathological features of cervical cancer. Methods:Flow-cytometry was introduced in the study of apoptosis, and the expression of P53 and PCNA were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 23 specimens of cervical cancer, 18 specimens of normal cervical organization and 18 specimens of cervical intraepithelial(CIN).Results:Apoptosis Index(AI) in normal group was lower than that in CIN group (P0.01), and AI in cervical cancer group was lower than that in CIN group (P0.05). The positive rate of P53 in three groups were 5.6%,16.7% and 47.8%. The expression of P53 was related to clinical staging (P0.01). The expression of PCNA was associated with histopathological grading (P0.01).Conclusion:Imbalance between apoptosis and proliferation is important to cause and improve cervical cancer. Mutation of Wild p53 gene may be an important factor on restraining apoptosis of carcinomatous cells. P53 and PCNA may be a hopeful marker for predicting the metastasis degree of cervical cancer and the prognosis of those patients.