Original article
English
Bendardaf R, Ristamaki R, Kujari H, Laine J, Lamlum H, Collan Y, Pyrhonen S.
Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland. riyben@utu.fi
Oncology. 2003;64(4):435-42.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine programmed cell death in 57 colorectal carcinomas (49 primary tumours and 8 metastases) and determine the prognostic significance of apoptosis in colorectal cancer. METHODS: Apoptotic index (AI) was ascertained by counting apoptotic bodies, using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated digoxigenin nick end labelling (Tunel assay) and the expression of bcl-2 was examined immunohistochemically. Statistical analysis was used to test the value of clinical variables, histopathological data, AI and bcl-2 expression in predicting the clinical outcome of these patients and the survival function was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: AI was found to have a significant independent effect on survival (p = 0.0006), with lower values of AI conveying better survival. CONCLUSION: In summary, these findings reveal that AI is a useful prognostic factor in colorectal carcinoma.
Keywords: • Colorectal carcinoma Apoptosis bcl-2 Carcinoembryonic antigen 5-Fluorouracil Irinotecan Survival
Link/DOI: http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?typ=fulltext&file=OCL2003064004435