Evaluation of anticancer agents against the colon cancer using the analysis of DNA ploidy and apoptosis.

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We examined whether the administration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) could enhance apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells, and we investigated the relationship between apoptosis and the expression of Ki-67, p53, and c-myc. Twenty patients with advanced colorectal cancer were divided into two groups. Ten received continuous intravenous 5-FU at 500 mg/body/day for 7 days preoperatively and 10 did not receive 5-FU and served as controls. Apoptotic cells were stained by so-called TUNEL method (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling). Apoptosis of cancer cells increased signinficantly to 18 <plus-minus> 6% in the 5-FU-treated group as compare to the controls (3 <plus-minus> 1% ; p<0.001). Expression of Ki-67, a indicator of cell proliferation, was inversely correlated with the TUNEL staining that was specific for apoptosis and the percentage of cells immunostained for Ki-67 fell significantly to 34 <plus-minus> 14% of the apoptotic area as compared to 72 <plus-minus> 12% in controls (p<0.001). There was no clear correlation between expression of apoptosis and the expression of p53 o