Relationship Between Apoptotic Index and Prognostic Factors in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Choi, H W; Lee, S K; Lee, J H; Kim, S B

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between apoptotic index[apoptotic cells/1000 tumor cells, AI], bcl-2, and p53 protein expression and clinicopathologic factors and prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer.
METHODS
We obtained 36 paraffin embedded blocks from ovarian tumor patients who were treated in KMC between 1982 to 1994. In 36 patients, 27 patients were epithelial ovarian cancers & patients were low malignancy potentials. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL[=terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick end labeling] method, and p53 and bcl-2 protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis was done by chi-square test, log lank test & Kaplan-Meier curve of SPSS software.
RESULTS
Mean AI was 2.99. AI had a negative correlation with histologic grade[p=0.038]. bcl-2 was significantly expressed in serous type tumors[p=0.015]. bcl-2 also correlated negatively with histologic grade[p=0.014]. p53 had a negative correlation with histologic grade[p=0.038]. AI, p53 & bcl-2 was not correlated with age, FIGO stage, tumor size, MI & 5 years survival rate.
CONCLUSION
There are no correlation between AI, p53 & bcl-2 protein expression and other prognostic factors except histologic grade. No significant correlation was found between AI & p53, bcl-2 protein expression. Our study has limited value because small number of patients, so we think that further evaluation & study will need to confirm relationship between apoptosis & other factors related with cell cycle.