Tuberc Respir Dis.  1989 Jun;36(2):134-141. 10.4046/trd.1989.36.2.134.

Autoradiographic Labeling Index of Tritiated Thymidine in Human Lung Cancer

• KMID: 2528560
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1989.36.2.134

Abstract

For the assessment of tumor cel1 proliferation, in vitro thymidine labeling indices of human lung cancers and squamous metaplasia were measured employing autoradiography of paraffin-embedded tissue sections. The tissues for culture were obtained with fiberoptic bronchoscopic biopsy from the 19 patients. The biopsy specimens consisted of eight squamous cell carcinomas, five small cell carcinomas, and six squamous metaplasias, The biopsy specimens were incubated with Eagle’s MEM culture media containing tritiated thymidine (specific activity, 20 Ci/mmol) for 30 minutes. The mean value with standard deviation of thymidine labeling indices was 20.54 ± 5.57% for squamous cell carcinomas, 19.20 ± 5.19% for small cell carcinomas and 7.94 ± 2.29% for squamous metaplasias, respectively. A wide range of individual labeling indices was noticed in the lung cancers In conclusion, tritiated thymidine labeling indices of human lung cancers were significantly higher than those of squamous metaplasia that may probably be an preneoplastic lesion.