Determination of proliferative/apoptotic ratio in human colon carcinoma and precursor lesions by multiple fluorescent labeling using virtual microscope

Background: The imbalance of epithelial apoptosis and proliferation may lead to the development of colon carcinomas. The determination of the proliferative/apoptotic ratio could characterize the different stages of the adenoma-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence (ADCS), which may be useful in the development of automated diagnostics of large number of precancerous lesions by virtual microscope. Aims: The characterization of epithelial proliferative/apoptotic ratio of every stage of the adenoma-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence by multiple fluorescent labeling using digital microscopy. Methods: Tissue MicroArrays (TMA) conta…