APOPTOSIS IN TRANSITIONAL-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE RENAL PELVIS AND URETER - ASSOCIATION WITH PROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY, BCL-2 EXPRESSION AND PROGNOSIS

Purpose: We attempted to clarify the significance of apoptosis in tumo r development and progression in 64 cases of transitional cell carcino ma of the renal pelvis and ureter by investigating apoptosis, prolifer ative activity and bcl-2 expression. Materials and Methods: We used in situ deoxyribonucleic acid nick end labeling for apoptotic cells and immunohistochemical staining for bcl-2 on archival tumor material. Res ults: The apoptotic index correlated significantly with mitotic index, histological grade and pathological stage. There was no significant r elationship between apoptotic index and bcl-2 expression. Patients wit h an apoptotic index greater than or equal to 0.22 had a poor prognosi s. Conclusions: Apoptosis is closely related to proliferative activity , tumor differentiation and depth of invasion in transitional cell car cinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter.