Korean J Pathol.  1997 May;31(5):462-469.

Correlation Between the Frequency of Apoptotic Bodies and Gleason Scores in Prostatic Cancer

• Yoon HS
• Kim HJ
• Koo HS
• Kim OK
• Kim SS

Abstract

Apoptosis (or programmed cell death) is defined by morphologic changes induced by a spectrum of physical and chemical agents. resulting in non-pathologic cell loss, which is relevant to a range of biological processes, including differentiation, development, maturation, and injury of cells as well as immunologic function. In this study, we examined the frequency of apoptotic bodies and mitoses (apoptotic and mitotic indices) in the tissue samples of 35 patients of prostatic carcinoma, which were grouped according to the Gleason scores, and 5 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The indices were determined as the numbers of apoptotic and mitotic bodies per 100 tumor cells in hematoxylin eosin stained section. The apoptotic bodies were confirmed by the in situ nick end labelling method. The apoptotic and mitotic indices were observed more frequently in prostatic carcinoma than the benign hyperplastic prostatic tissues with a positive correlation between the frequency of apoptotic bodies and Gleason scores in prostatic cancer. In conclusion, an increased programmed cell death was correlated with the increasing malignant potential (higher Gleason scores) in prostatic cancer.

Keyword

Apoptosis; Gleason score; Prostatic cancer

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis
Biological Processes
Cell Death
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Hematoxylin
Humans
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Mitosis
Mitotic Index
Neoplasm Grading
Prostatic Hyperplasia
Prostatic Neoplasms*
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Hematoxylin