Expression of ki-67 antigen and caspase-3 protein in benign lesions and esophageal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The present study aimed to evaluate apoptosis and cell proliferation alterations in esophageal benign lesions in comparison to esophageal carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunohistochemistry was performed for caspase-3 protein (CPP32) and Ki-67 antigen expression in the esophageal mucosa from patients with Chagas disease (CD) with and without megaesophagus (CM), chronic esophagitis (CE), esophageal carcinoma (ESCC) and in normal mucosa (NM). RESULTS The Ki-67 labeling index (LI) was similar in all groups (range: 30%-48%), having no statistically significant difference among the groups. Positive CPP32 immunostaining was observed with similar frequency in the CD (30.8%), CM (30.4%) and CE (34.8%) groups, but it was increased in the ESCC group (55.5%); however, it was not statistically different from the other groups. No associations among the levels of CPP32 and Ki-67 expression were observed in the various groups, neither among parameters such as age, gender or alcohol and tobacco consumption. CONCLUSION There were no evident changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis in benign lesions studied.