Apoptotic Index in Ovarian Carcinoma: Correlation with Clinicopathologic Factors and Prognosis

Son, S G; Noh, H T

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To establish if any association exists between the apoptotic index and clinicopathologic factors and prognosis in ovarian carcinoma. METHOD: Archival samples from ovarian carcinomas [n=34], benign ovarian tumors [n=10], and normal ovarian tissue [n=10] were evaluated for apoptosis. Apoptotic cells were identified by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated fragmentation end labelling method in histologic sections. The apoptotic index [AI= sum of apoptotic bodies/ 1000 tumor cells] and total cell count [X 400 magnification] were then calculated. RESULT: A high apoptotic index[AI] [> or =16.6] significantly correlated with age of all ovarian carcinoma. [P=0.014] A high apoptotic index[AI] [> or =14.8] significantly correlated with high clinical stage [P=0.038], and high histologic grade [P=0.032] of serous ovarian carcinoma. No significant correlation was found between apoptotic index[AI] and clinical stage, histologic grade of other type ovarian carcinoma. Also no significant correlation was found between apoptotic index[AI] and other clinicopathological factors, such as serum CA 125 level, total cell count, and prognosis.
CONCLUSION
Our results indicate that counting apoptosis cannot be useful for predicting patient survival in ovarian carcinoma, and that AI is not an independent prognostic factor.