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Apoptosis and proliferative activity in thyroid tumors
A Yoshida1, Y Nakamura, T Imada
1Second Division of Surgery, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama, Japan.
Surgery Today
|April 7, 1999
Summary
Thyroid tumor growth involves infrequent apoptosis and varying proliferation rates. Undifferentiated carcinomas show higher proliferation than adenomas and differentiated types, suggesting this ratio impacts tumor progression.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Understanding thyroid tumor growth mechanisms is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
- Apoptosis and proliferation are key cellular processes influencing tumor development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the roles of apoptosis and cell proliferation in different thyroid tumor subtypes.
- To correlate apoptotic and proliferative indices with thyroid tumor progression.
Main Methods:
- Examined apoptotic cells using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate digoxigenin-nick end labeling (TUNEL) in 61 thyroid tumors.
- Assessed proliferative activity via immunohistochemistry using the Ki-67 antigen (MIB-1) antibody.
- Calculated apoptotic index (AI) and proliferation index (PI) for each tumor subtype.
Main Results:
- Apoptotic index (AI) was consistently low across all thyroid tumor types (adenoma, differentiated carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma).
- Proliferation index (PI) was significantly lower in adenomas and differentiated carcinomas compared to undifferentiated carcinomas (P < 0.05).
- No correlation found between clinicopathological factors and AI or PI in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
Conclusions:
- Apoptosis occurs infrequently in thyroid tumors.
- Proliferative activity significantly differs among thyroid tumor subtypes, with undifferentiated carcinomas exhibiting higher rates.
- The ratio of proliferating to apoptotic cells may serve as an indicator of thyroid tumor progression.