Basic information
Biomarker: apoptotic index
Biomarker subtype: DNA
Clinical application: prognosis(unfavorable)
Histology type: endometrial carcinoma
Cohort characteristics
Country: UK
Region: Sheffield
| Total number | Group I | Group I number | Group II | Group II number | Group III | Group III number | Group IV | Group IV number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | EC | 15 |
Sample information
Sample type : tissue
Clinical method: Gaffney
Disease information
Related information
Description: A high apoptotic index shows an association with features normally correlated with a poor clinical outcome although its value as an independent prognostic index has yet to be established.
Detailed Description: Apoptosis is a physiologic form of cell death that serves as one aspect of tissue growth and size regulation[Cummings MC, Winterford CM, Walker NI . Apoptosis. Am J Surg Pathol 1997; 21: 88–101]. The inhibition of apoptosis is believed to play a role in carcinogenesis in one of two ways: (1) it may allow for the unchecked accumulation of genetic alterations[PMID: 7812951, PMID: 7728743[ and [PMID: 7812951] it may lead to unbalanced proliferation of tumor[Baretton GB, Diebold J, Christoforis G, Vogt M, Muller C, Dopfer K, et al. Apoptosis and immunohistochemical bcl-2 expression in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas. Cancer 1996; 77: 255–264]. As such, it has become an area of intense interest in oncologic research. The morphologic criteria for identifying cells undergoing apoptosis are well established and include cytoplasmic condensation, loss of cell–cell contact, and cell shrinkage. This is separate and distinct from necrosis, an alternate form of cell death that involves cell swelling and rupture with associated surrounding tissue damage (5, 6, 7). Although cells undergoing apoptosis can be identified using these morphologic criteria on a standard hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slide, studies have shown that using this method alone may underestimate the rate of apoptosis by 2-fold to 3-fold (8). As a result, there is increased interest in finding a reliable, reproducible method for identifying and quantifying apoptosis in whole tissue sections. The apoptotic index was calculated by dividing the total number of apoptotic bodies by the total number of intact carcinoma cells and multiplying by 100.[PMID: 12692204]
