Expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and p53 proteins in carcinogenesis of squamous cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Apoptosis is regulated by many genes, including bcl-2, p53, and bcl-2 family genes. The expression of Bcl-2, p53, and Bax in very early lung cancers or precancer lesions is not been fully understood.


METHODS
The expression of these proteins was examined immunohistochemically in 11 normal bronchial epithelia, 23 dysplasias, and 40 roentgenographically occult squamous cell lung cancers (ROCs).


RESULTS
The expression of the Bcl-2 and p53 protein increased along with the advance of the morphological atypia in bronchial epithelial cells, whereas no difference in the Bax expression. The patients with Bcl-2 positive ROCs had a better prognosis than those with Bcl-2 negative ROCs.


CONCLUSIONS
Bcl-2 and p53 proteins play important roles in early steps of carcinogenesis in squamous cell lung cancer of central type. The Bcl-2 protein could be a prognostic marker in ROCs.
Chen
Y
Y
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Sato
M
M
Fujimura
S
S
Endo
C
C
Sakurada
A
A
Aikawa
H
H
Takahashi
H
H
Tanita
T
T
Kondo
T
T
Saito
Y
Y
Sagawa
M
M
D001980:Bronchi / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011859:Radiography; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494826:BAX protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein