CELL-PROLIFERATION, CELL-DEATH AND ANGIOGENESIS IN EARLY AND ADVANCEDGASTRIC-CANCER OF INTESTINAL-TYPE

Mitotic (MI) and apoptotic index (Al), the sum of the 2, i.e., the tur nover index (TI), tumor neovascularization (NV) and p53 expression, as well as tumor grading and node status, are evaluated in early and adv anced gastric-cancer cases. T-1 cases show significantly less frequent lymph-node invasion and lower tumor grade, and, taken together, have significantly lower MI, Al and TI and higher values of NV than the T2- 3 cases. However, correlation of the variables shows that the above-me ntioned discrimination is due to a minority of T-1 cases (I I out of 3 3), while the majority of them are allocated in the same 95% ellipse o f tolerance of the T2-3 cases. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.