摘要：

AIM To investigate the role of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of gastric carcinoma by observation of the relationship between apoptosis and proliferation. METHODS Using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase_mediated nick end labelling (TUNEL) technique and PCNA immunohistochemical staining, we observed the apoptotic cells and proliferating cells in situ in 10 normal gastric mucosa, 16 chronic atrophic gastritis, 36 intestinal metaplasia, 20 gastric dysplasia and 53 gastric carcinomas. RESULTS The apoptotic indexes in atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and gastric dysplasia (11 9%, 14 7%, 8 0%) were significantly higher than those in normal mucosa and gastric carcinoma (3 5%, 5 8%, t =2 058-7 901, P 0 01-0 05). Comparison of intestinal metaplasia with gastric dysplasia and gastric carcinoma showed that apoptotic cells decreased and proliferating cells increased significantly. The PCNA index in gastric carcinoma (47 5%) was significantly higher than that in gastric dysplasia (30 1%, P 0 01). CONCLUSION Apoptosis may play a role in selection of clonal subpopulations with high growth potential resulting in malignant transformation. Abnormal regulation of apoptosis may play an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric carcinoma.

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