Apoptosis and proliferative activity of non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas: Comparison with expression of bcl‐2, p53 and c‐myc proteins

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In order to clarify the role of spontaneous apoptosis of non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas In the growth regulation system, apoptdc Indices (Al) assessed by DNA nick end‐labeling and proliferative activity, estimated In terms of Ki‐67 Iabeling Indices (KI) and mitotic Indices (MI), were compared. in addition, expresslon of bcl‐2, p53 and c‐myc was also examIned in relation to these Indicators. For thls study, 103 Iymphoma cases were used, comprising 72 of B cell and 31 of T cell origin (42 nodal and 62 extranodal). Al, KI and MI were signiffcantty Increased in llne with bcl‐2 negativity and p53 positivify, and there was no relation to the T, B cell classification or expression of c‐myc. These Indicators positivety correlated overall. Posltive correlation was stricter in groups belleved to represant a good pragnostic predictive factor, such as B cell origin, bci‐2(+), p53(‐) and c‐myc(‐). Significant cross‐correlation was noted only between bcl‐2 wersus T, B cell classification. However, no inverse correlation between bcl‐2 and p53 was evident. These results sug gest, in non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas, that apoptosls plays an Important role together with proliferative activity in counterbalancing tumor volume, and is strlctty linked to bcl‐2 expression, less 80 to p53 expresaion, but Independent of T, B cell classification and c‐myc expression. Apoptotlc indices may be a perdlctive Indicator for prognosis simllar to proliferative activity.