Necrosis and apoptotic index as prognostic factors in non-small cell lung carcinoma: a review

Abstract

Necrosis and apoptosis represent two pathogenetically distinct types of cell death. Necrosis is associated with pathologic conditions while apoptosis is a physiological process of programmed cell death, which is associated with normal tissue growth and is frequently impaired in various forms of cancer. Tumor necrosis and apoptotic index (AI) have been previously evaluated as prognostic biomarkers in lung cancer, but their exact clinical value remains unclear. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of the MEDLINE literature on the prognostic significance of these histopathological markers in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Although a substantial body of evidence suggests that tumor necrosis may be a strong predictor of aggressive tumor behavior and reduced survival in patients with NSCLC, the independent prognostic value of this biomarker remains to be firmly established. Furthermore, previous data on the prognostic significance of apoptotic index in NSCLC are relatively limited and largely controversial. More prospective studies are necessary in order to further validate tumor necrosis and AI as prognostic markers in NSCLC.

Combination of Everolimus with Sorafenib for Solid Renal Tumors in Tsc2+/− Mice Is Superior to Everolimus Alone

“…We have found that sorafenib causes massive cell death with typical “ghost” cells in some large solid tumors [16]. Everolimus or everolimus plus sorafenib also causes massive cell death but to a much smaller extent.…”

“…Everolimus or everolimus plus sorafenib also caused massive cell death but to a much smaller extent (Figure 8). The dying or dead cells exhibited features of anucleate ghost cells characteristic of necrosis [16]. Greatest cell death was found for the sorafenib-only group (Table 1) ( P  = .002).…”

Role of Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Imaging in Diagnosis and Staging of Lung Cancer

“…Bu çalışmaların sonuçları tekstür analizi bulgularının hasta prognozu ile ilişkili olduğunu işaret etmektedir (58,59). KHDAK'sinde özellikle hipoksiye bağlı olarak gelişen tümör nekrozu ve buna bağlı tümör içi heterojenite sık rastlanan bir histopatolojik özellik olup, primer tümörün yüksek derecede heterojeniteye sahip olmasının hastalık nüksü, tedavi direnci ve düşük sağkalım oranları ile ilişkili olduğu gösterilmiştir (54,60,61).…”

Regulated cell death in diagnostic histopathology

“…The value of apoptotic index (AI) in diagnosis or prognosis has been studied in many cancer types (Becker et al, 2014, Fu et al, 2014, Gkogkou et al, 2014, Kuriyama et al, 2002, Ribeiro Mde et al, 2004, Richter et al, 2002, Wu et al, 2013, but the results were controversial. Further, AI was investigated as a predictor of chemotherapy response in gastric carcinoma (Jia et al, 2012, Wu et al, 2014a or radiotherapy response in cervical cancer (Bhosle et al, 2005), and breast cancer (Burcombe et al, 2005).…”