Proliferation/apoptosis and expression of P53 and Bcl-2 in gastric carcinoma

AIM:To study proliferation and apoptosis in gastric carcinoma (GC) and precancerous lesions and expression of their regulating genes. METHODS:Total 24 cases of GC, 14 dysplasia (DP), 24 chronic gastritis (10 superfical gastritis, SG, 14 atrophic gastritis, AG) and 32 intestinal metaplasia (IM) were studied by histopathological, immunohistochemical techniques with Ki67, P53 and Bcl-2 antibodies, and by TUNEL for apoptosis. Proliferation index (PI), apoptosis index (AI), apoptosis/ proliferation ratio, apoptosis degree and positive percent of P53 and Bcl-2 were counted. RESULTS:The PI of GC, DP, IM, AG were 12.4±6.8 %, 6.4±4.2 %, 6.6±3.4 %, 3.8±2.9 % respectively. There was a significant difference between SG and GC, DP, IM, and AG (P 0.05). Mucosa in AG showed excessive apoptosis, however the apoptosis degree in severe DP and early gastric carcinoma was about 1/3 of SG, and in advanced GC was its 1/5. The positive percentages of P53 in GC, DP, IM and AG were 25.0 %, 14.3 %, 3.1 % and 0 % respectively. The positive rate of Bcl-2 was 58.3 %, 42.8 %, 9.4 % and 7.1 % respectively. There was a significant correlation beween P53 and Bcl-2.