title: Expression of bcl-2--protein in small cell lung cancer.
abstract: The expression of the proto-oncogene bcl-2, whose main function appears to be an inhibition of apoptosis, was investigated in 164 cases of primary small cell lung cancer by means of immunohistochemistry in a retrospective analysis. One-hundred twenty-five cases (76%) demonstrated expression of bcl-2. There was no difference in serum LDH levels and proliferative activity between the two groups. An analysis revealed a median survival time of 12 months for patients with bcl-2 positive tumors compared to 9.5 months for patients with bcl-2 negative tumors. Although statistical significance is not achieved, there is a trend towards longer survival in patients whose tumors express bcl-2. This tendency is also reflected by a higher rate of complete remission after chemotherapy: 40% in patients with bcl-2+ tumors versus 27% in patients with bcl-2- tumors. In multivariate analysis, tumor stage followed by Karnofsky index were the most valuable predictors for complete remission. LDH and tumor stage were most predictive for 1-year survival. Bcl-2 expression is frequent in SCLC and may reflect a less aggressive mechanism of transformation and a higher susceptibility to cytostatic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum Innere Medizin, Philipps-Universitat, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schilli
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Haag
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kreipe
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kogan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Havemann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000032:analysis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000737:chemistry; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II