Proliferative and apoptotic status in endometrial adenocarcinoma

The contribution of cell proliferation and apoptosis to growth patterns in endometrial adenocarcinoma were investigated. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out by an antibody for Ki-67 proliferative antigen, Ley apoptotic antigen, and oncogene products bcl-2 and p53. Forty cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma were classified as exophytic, endophytic, and mixed exo- and endophytic in light of their vertical growth pattern, and, in each case, the carcinomatous area was divided into three layers by its vertical axis. In all but one case, no zonal distribution of the antigen expression was observed. In one case, an exophytic tumor, Ki-67 expression was intense in the surface layer and Ley expression in the deep layer was also intense, suggesting a correlation between macroscopic growth pattern and cellular growth and apoptotic potential. However, in general, zonal distribution of cell proliferation and apoptosis could not explain the growth morphology of endometrial adenocarcinoma of the uterus and it was suggested that factor(s) other than cell proliferation and apoptosis determine macroscopic growth patterns.