Figure 1

Disseminated apoptotic and nonapoptotic disseminated tumor cells. (a) Nonapoptotic disseminated tumor cell (DTC) (detected by the APAAP kit method). (b) Apoptotic DTC identified by M30 staining and morphological assessment (for example, membrane blebbing, nuclear shrinkage) (APAAP kit detection method). (c) Apoptotic DTC identified by morphological assessment (nuclear shrinkage, cytokeratin inclusions) (DTC detected by a fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate-labeled anticytokeratin antibody). (d) Apoptotic cell body without detectable amounts of chromatin.