Objective: To investigate action of apoptosis in tumorigenesis by observation of the relationship between apoptosis and proliferation.
Method: Using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP niok end labelling (TUNEL) technique, PCNA immunohistochemical staining, and HE staining, we observed the density and distribution of apoptotic cells, proliferating cells and mitotic cells in situ in 15 normal mucosa, 32 villous adenoma and 33 papilloid adenocarcinoma of large bowel.
Results: The zone of apoptotic cells located in superficies and zone of proliferating cells in base in normal mucosa. These characteristics of distribution were lost in villous adenomas and papilloid adenocarcinomas of large bowel. The density of apoptotic cells in villous adenomas was significantly higher than that in normal mucosa and carcinomas. The density of apoptotic cells lowered and the density of proliferating cells rose in villous adenomas. Comparison of villous adenoma with papilloid adenocarcinoma, showed that apoptotic cells decreased and proliferating cells increased significantly.
Conclusions: Through selectivity, the cells have highly proliferative ability prodominanted, resulting in malignant transformation. This phenomenon was named as a selective proliferation of cells.