Apoptosis, cell proliferation and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in gastric carcinomas: immunohistochemical and clinicopathological study

Abstract

Summary To clarify the relation between bcl-2 and bax protein (Bcl-2 and Bax) expression with regard to apoptosis and cell proliferation, 82 gastric carcinomas were immunohistochemically investigated. The significance of apoptosis for biological behaviour of the tumours was also examined. The apoptotic indices (Als) were significantly lower in early-stage than in advanced-stage lesions (P<0.05), being positively correlated with the mitotic indices (MIs) (r=0.447, P<0.001). No association between either Als or Mls and tumour size (diameter of intramural spreading) was noted. The Als in the high Bcl-2-immunoreactive score group were significantly smaller than in either the low or the negative categories, whereas they were relatively elevated in the high Bax score group. In addition, an inverse correlation between Bcl-2 and Bax expression was revealed for both Als and MIs. Although depth of tumour invasion and lymph node status were clearly associated with favourable outcome, no relation between survival rates and average values of either Als or MIs, or immunoreactive scores for Bcl-2 and Bax was observed. These results indicate that in gastric carcinomas, apoptosis is closely associated with cell proliferation and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax, but appears likely to have no particular biological significance as a prognostic factor.

Loss of Bcl-2 in invasive breast cancer is associated with high rates of cell death, but also with increased proliferative activity

“…For instance, in gastric cancer, Bcl-2 expression was positively correlated with a low Al and MI, whereas Bax expression seemed to be correlated with an increased AI and MI. In line with our findings, no correlation was found between Bcl-2/Bax ratios and either AI or MI (Koshida et al, 1996). In DCIS, apoptotic activity has been reported to be correlated with high grade (Bodis et al, 1996), indicating a correlation with proliferative activity.…”

“…In a previous study, we noted that the majority of Bcl-2-negative invasive tumours were accompanied by Bcl-2-negative DCIS (H-J. van (Lipponen and Aaltomaa, 1994;Aihara et al, 1995;Du et al, 1996;Isacson et al, 1996;Koshida et al, 1996;Shoji et al, 1996). For instance, in gastric cancer, Bcl-2 expression was positively correlated with a low Al and MI, whereas Bax expression seemed to be correlated with an increased AI and MI.…”

DCC expression is related to mucinous differentiation but not changes in expression of p21WAF1/Cip1 and p27Kip1, apoptosis, cell proliferation and human papillomavirus infection in uterine cervical adenocarcinomas

“…Detailed morphological features of apoptotic cells have been reported previously (Saegusa et al, 1996;Koshida et al, 1997). Cells undergoing apoptosis were more frequently identified in tumour lesions, in particular AIS and E-ACs, than in normal glandular epithelia.…”

Tumour markers of prognosis in colorectal cancer

“…However, there are no data on the association between BAX staining and prognosis in colorectal cancer. The recent development of techniques for the use of BAX antibodies in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumour tissue should allow this marker to be assessed in the near future (Apolinario et al, 1997;Koshida et al, 1997).…”