EXPRESSION OF BCL-2 AND APOPTOTIC DNA FRAGMENTATION IN HUMAN ENDOMETRIAL ADENOCARCINOMA CELLS

Immunohistochemical detection of bcl-2 products and in situ estimation of DNA fragmentation during apoptosis by the nick end labelling metho d were performed to establish any correlation between these two appare ntly opposing processes in human solid tumors. Serial sections, one mi crometer in thickness, from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissu es of 10 cases of human endometrial adenocarcinoma were examined using the two techniques. A significant fraction of carcinoma cells were fo und to be stained by both methods, although there existed a general te ndency for bcl-2 expression to be negatively correlated with DNA fragm entation in carcinoma tissue. The results thus suggest that bcl-2 expr ession doses not always block apoptosis, and that simultaneous applica tion of bcl-2 immunostaining and DNA nick end labeling is useful for s howing the complex nature of apoptosis in histologic slides, especiall y in gynecological cancers.