To evaluate the influence of radiotherapy upon tumor cells from esophageal carcinoma, a cytokinetic study was made to compare those with and without pre-operative irradiation using resected specimens.
In the pre-operatively irradiated group (R group), the average dosage of irradiation was 36.5±11.5 Gy, and the intervals between the end of radiotherapy and the day of surgery ranged from two to three weeks in all cases.
Using paraffin-embedded materials, AgNOR numbers, a PCNA labeling index, and a positive ratio of immunohistochemical staining of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in tumor tissues, the R group and non-irradiated group (NR group) were examined. The non-cancerous epithelium of the non-irradiated patients were examined as well as a control (C group). Post operative survivals were assessed for clinical evaluation in stages 3 and 4 of both R and NR patients.
As a result, the AgNOR numbers were 5.5±1.2 in the R, 5.6±0.8 in the NR and 2.3±0.4 in the C groups. Statistical difference was noted between the R and C groups, as well as between the NR and C groups. However, no difference was seen between the R and NR groups. PCNA L. I. was 72.6±13.8% in the R, 79.3±8.0% in the NR and 51.7±5.7% in the C groups. The statistical analysis gave the same results as the AgNOR study. The positive ratio of the ODC staining was 26.1% in the R and 48.6% in NR, whereas there was no positive in the C group. No statistical difference was seen between the R and NR groups either.
Post-operative survivals of stage 3 and stage 4 patients of both the R and NR groups was almost the same.