High levels of apoptosis are associated with improved survival in non-small cell lung cancer

Tumour growth is accompanied by angiogenesis and reduced apoptosis in exper imental animals. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value of apoptosis and the association between apoptosis and vascularity in non-s mall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Following in-situ end-labelling of DNA, apop totic cells were quantified by three different indices. as a percentage, ei ther counting fetal cells (AI-rc) or point-counting (AI-pc), or as cells pe r area (AI-area). Blood vessels were stained with vWF antibody and vascular ity was quantified by three methods. Median values for AI-tc, Al-pc and AI- area were 0.38, 0.32 and 10.7, respectively. High values were associated wi th improved survival, reaching statistical significance for AI-area (p<0.05 ). All three apoptotic indices were significantly correlated with each othe r bur no correlation was found between indices of apoptosis and vascularity As previously reported vascularity had no prognostic value. These results indicate that, in NSCLC, vascularity is not informative, but apoptotic inde x may be a useful prognostic factor.