Active caspase 3 and DNA fragmentation as markers for apoptotic cell death in primary and metastatic liver tumours

Abstract

Aims: The induction of tumour cell death by apoptosis is a<br />major goal of cancer therapy and the in situ detection of<br />apoptosis in tumour tissue has become an important<br />diagnostic parameter. Different apoptosis detection methods<br />assess distinct biochemical processes in the dying cell. Thus,<br />their direct comparison is mandatory to evaluate their<br />diagnostic value. The aim of this study was to compare the<br />immunohistochemical detection of active caspase 3 and<br />single-stranded DNA in primary and metastatic liver tumours<br />as markers of apoptotic cell death.<br />Methods: We studied detection of active caspase 3 and<br />single-stranded DNA in 20 primary hepatocellular carcinomas<br />(HCC) and 20 liver metastases from colorectal<br />carcinomas (CRC) using immunohistochemistry on paraffin<br />sections.<br />Results: Our results reveal that both methods are suitable<br />and sensitive techniques for the in situ detection of<br />apoptosis, however, they also demonstrate that immunohistochemistry<br />for active caspase 3 and single-stranded DNA<br />have differential sensitivities in HCC and CRC.<br />Conclusion: The sensitivity of apoptosis detection using<br />immunohistochemistry for active caspase 3 and singlestranded<br />DNA may be tumour cell type dependent.