Apoptosis in epithelial ovarian tumors.

It is now recognized that apoptosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of tumors. This study evaluated the extent of apoptosis in different grades of ovarian tumors and correlated it with the expression of apoptosis regulatory genes, p53 and bcl-2 and with the total proliferative compartment of the tumor defined by the expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Apoptosis was evaluated by the TUNEL (Tdt-mediated dUTP biotin nick end labelling) assay. Expressions of p53, bcl-2 and PCNA were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. A negative correlation was observed between the expression of bcl-2 and the extent of apoptosis (r = -0.3336, p = 0.019). P53 accumulation directly correlated with the extent of apoptosis (r = 0.485, p = 0.00041). The labelling index of PCNA also showed correlation with expression of p53 (r = 0.49, p = 0.00000). Apoptosis was significantly higher in poorly differentiated tumors when compared to the well- and moderately-differentiated tumors (r = 0.49152, p = 0.00034). Such poorly-differentiated tumors also showed high p53 overexpression and loss of bcl-2 expression. The present study thus provides evidence that dysregulation of apoptosis and its regulatory genes is associated with increasing malignant potential and may thus contribute to the pathogenesis of ovarian tumors.

A case-control study on risk factors for pancreatic diseases in Kerala, India.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We simultaneously conducted case-control studies, in Kerala of South India, on chronic calcific pancreatitis of the tropics (CCPT), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) with CCPT, and PDA alone to assess similarity of and difference between their risk factors. METHODOLOGY: Cases with one of these diseases were identified at the Trivandrum Medical College (TMC) Hospital, in Kerala, from 1994 to 1996. Controls were selected from healthy hospital visitors of the TMC Hospital by individual age (within +/- 3 years) and sex-matched with the index case. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals for potential risk factors were calculated. RESULTS: Frequent consumption of cassava was positively associated with the risk of PDA with CCPT. Heavy cigarette smoking and drinking large amounts of coffee and/or tea everyday were positively related to the risk of PDA alone. Frequent consumption of vegetables and/or fruits was correlated to the decreased risk of PDA alone. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors as well as preventive factors seem to be different between PDA with CCPT and PDA alone. Further study is necessary, especially to clarify the prognostic factors which would induce pancreatic malignancy in patients with CCPT.