title: Bcl-2 expression and response to chemotherapy in colorectal adenocarcinomas.
abstract: In the last year, a number of studies have reported the expression of bcl-2 in colorectal adenocarcinomas. However, the influence of bcl-2 expression on response to chemotherapy and outcome in patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma has not been reported. We analysed bcl-2 expression in 231 colorectal tumours from patients that were treated by surgery alone or with 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Of 231 tumours, 149 (64.5%) overexpressed bcl-2. Bcl-2 expression was associated with low plasma CEA levels (P=0.013) and inversely associated with poor differentiation (P=0.049). However, bcl-2 expression did not significantly influence failure-free or overall survival in surgically treated patients. In the group of patients receiving 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy bcl-2 expression did not influence response to chemotherapy; nor did it effect failure-free or overall survival.
authors.affiliation: The Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Andreyev
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Tilsed
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D005472:Fluorouracil