Cell growth and death in malignant lymphomas - A quantitative analysis

OBJECTIVE: To review the value of biopathologic factors in single lymphomat ous patients across the boundaries of histologic classification. STUDY DESIGN: In a series of previous studies, based on a large collection of biopsy samples, the value of the above biopathologic characteristics in individual lymphomatous patients was quantitatively evaluated. RESULTS: The relationships between apoptotic index and growth fraction, in light of the expression of oncogenes, which regulate cell birth and death, were of particular value in determining the growth pattern of different lym phoma cases across the boundaries of histologic classification. CONCLUSION: The study of mechanisms that regulate cell proliferation and de ath might have therapeutic implications as the proper therapeutic approach should be based on detailed knowledge of the kinetic and molecular characte ristics of each tumor.