Frequent occurrence of apoptosis is an early event in the oncogenesis of XXXX @entity356 .

@entity1 @entity10730 @entity5 @entity189 @entity1977 @entity876 @entity356
We examined the relationship between apoptosis and the progression of @entity1 @entity356 . Studies were conducted on a total of 88 surgically removed stomachs, comprising 26 minute (less than 5 mm in diameter), 29 early (limited to the mucosal and submucosal layer) and 33 advanced @entity189 . Apoptotic cells were visualized by @entity10730 ( @entity10730 )-mediated @entity1977 -digoxigenin nick end labelling (TUNEL). Serial sections were immunostained for @entity876 and Ki-67. The mean apoptotic indices (AI: percentage of TUNEL signal positive cells) of minute, early, and advanced @entity189 were 4.1 +/- 0.6, 3.8 +/- 1.2, and 4.0 +/- 1.2 in 46 well differentiated @entity189 , and 2.1 +/- 0.5, 2.7 +/- 0.9, and 2.2 +/- 1.1 in 42 poorly differentiated @entity189 , respectively. Similarly, the mean Ki-67 labelling indices (KI) were 39.2 +/- 7.8, 47.2 +/- 12.8, 52.6 +/- 13.1 in the former, and 35.0 +/- 9.3, 36.9 +/- 10.3, and 40.0 +/- 9.2 in the latter, respectively. Both mean AI and mean KI were significantly higher in well differentiated than in poorly differentiated @entity189 (P < 0.05). However, the value of mean AI did not differ among minute, early, and advanced @entity189 in either histological type, while KI increased gradually with @entity5 progression. The frequency of nuclear @entity876 expression did not differ among the three categories, implying that the gene mutation is an early event in @entity356 . There was no statistical significance between nuclear @entity876 expression and mean AI. These results suggest that the progression of @entity356 is defined by a gradual increase of proliferative activity and constant occurrence of apoptosis and that naturally occurring apoptosis is induced predominantly via a @entity876 -gene-independent pathway.
