[Cell kinetic study of human gastric cancers--using an in vitro 3H-thymidine labeling method]

For the purpose of investigating cell the kinetics of human gastric carcinoma, the distribution of 3H-thymidine labeled cells and the labeling index were evaluated in biopsy specimens obtained from 52 patients with gastric cancer, using an in vitro labeling technique. Adenocarcinomas were scattered with labeled cells, while in carcinoid speciners labeled cells were confined to the periphery of tumor cell nests. Characteristically, small-sized cells were exclusively labeled with 3H-thymidine in signet-ring cell carcinomas but signet-ring cells bearing a large amount of mucin were not. Thus signet-ring cells could be regarded as cells in a differentiated condition which have lost their prolife-rating capability. The labeling index of gastric cancers ranged from 10 to 20% in most cases although it varied greatly from case to case (2.2-40.8%). The values of the labeling index were correlated with neither the degree of histological differentiation, macrascopic appearance nor the depth of mural invasion of carcinomas.