Cell kinetics in breast cancer.

In breast cancer the study of prognostic factors has been well developed during last years and many biologic and biochemical parameters have been analyzed. Cell kinetics parameters demonstrated the capability to select patients with different risk of evolution of the neoplasia and in some cases treatment protocols are established by means of proliferation rate. The present study deals with the determination of Thymidine Labelling Index in breast tumors mostly T1-T2 with negative lymph nodes. Results demonstrated that the proliferative activity is higher in younger patients, in T2 cancers compared to T1, and in ductal infiltrating forms compared to the other more frequent histotypes. A significant correlation has been observed between TLI and nuclear grade. The preliminary analysis of the prognostic value of TLI has been two performed using an experimental cut off that is able to discriminate groups of patients with overall survival rate of 67% and 88%, depending on the different proliferative activity of the tumor.

Labeling index in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Two cell kinetic parameters, the 3H-thymidine labeling index (TLI) and the mitotic index (MI), were studied in vitro on fragments of squamous cell carcinoma tissue of the larynx. They were evaluated to identify those elements able to characterize the growth of these solid tumors. The values of these parameters were analyzed as a function of the clinical stage and the involvement of the regional lymph nodes. Results showed a statistically significant increase in the TLI from stage T1 to T3. No statistically significant differences in the TLI values were observed between the patients with positive and negative lymph nodes.