title: [Expression of proto-oncogene bcl-2 in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx].
abstract: Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is responsible for deleting cells in normal tissues to maintain homeostasis after DNA damage. Apoptosis has several physiological inhibitors, one of the most important being the proto-oncogene bcl-2. An immunohistochemical study was made of bcl-2 expression in 25 squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx, in laryngeal mucosa distant from the primary neoplasm, and in lymph node metastases. The relationship between bcl-2 expression and various clinical and pathological parameters was investigated. Bcl-2 was detected in 40% of primary tumors and in 71% of lymph node metastases; it seems to be a late event in laryngeal malignant transformation. We found no statistical association between bcl-2 expression and most of the clinical and pathological parameters examined. Only tumor differentiation was related to bcl-2 expression, bcl-2 positive tumors being moderately or poorly differentiated (p < 0.02).
authors.affiliation: Hospital Punta de Europa, Algeciras.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mochón
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Concha
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciges
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017209:Apoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007830:Larynx / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2