Abstract

BACKGROUND
Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is under genetic control and is mediated by apoptosis-specific genes, certain oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Caspase 3, a group of cystein proteases, is involved in the induction of apoptosis and has been considered to be correlated with apoptosis. Therefore, we tried to define whether caspase 3 is expressed in gastric adenoma and carcinoma, and correlated with apoptosis.
METHODS
The apoptotic index and caspase 3 and Ki-67 immunoreactivity were observed in 25 gastric adenomas, 31 early gastric carcinomas (EGC) and 64 advanced gastric carcinomas (AGC) by in situ labelling and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The mean number of apoptotic bodies and caspase 3 immunoreactivity were significantly increased from adenoma through EGC to AGC. Ki-67 immunoreactivity was more increased in AGC than in adenoma and EGC. And the number of apoptotic bodies were positively correlated with caspase 3 and Ki-67 immunoreactivity, and caspase 3 immunoreactivity was negatively correlated with Ki-67 immunoreactivity even though they were statistically insignificant.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that caspase 3 activation is important for inducing apoptosis, and both caspase 3 and apoptosis are increased along the tumor progression.

• Keywords: Apoptosis;Caspases;Ki-67 antigen;Carcinoma;Stomach