Correlation of bcl-2 oncoprotein immunohistochemical expression with proliferation index and histopathologic parameters in colorectal neoplasia.
Thebcl-2oncogene plays an important role in carcinogenesis by inhibiting cell death (apoptosis). It was initially discovered in follicular B cell lymphoma with t(14,18), and subsequently found in other malignant and premalignant lesions. Alteration of the normal controls of cell proliferation is also a significant factor in the multistep process of tumorigenesis. The proliferative activity of a given lesion is commonly valuated by MIB1, a monoclonal antibody to Ki67 proliferation antigen. Immuno-histochemical (IHC) staining expression of bcl-2 and Ki67 was retrospectively investigated in a series of 52 colorectal carcinomas and 56 adenomas according to the avidin-biotin-complex method. The aim of the study was twofold: 1) to investigate any correlation between MIB1 and bcl-2 immunostaining expression in colonic adenomas and carcinomas, 2) to identify any relationship between either marker and several histopathologic parameters including tumor size, pathologic stage, lymph node metastasis, angio-lymphatic invasion, tumor grade and differentiation in colon carcinomas. Bcl-2 was consistently higher in adenomas than in carcinomas. There were 44/56 (78.6%) adenomas, and 27/52 (51.9%) carcinomas positive for bcl-2 (p=0.004). The mean Ki67 labeling index (LI) was 30.05+/-7.6 and 38.12+/-11.01 in adenomas and carcinomas, respectively (p=0.0001). Expression of bcl-2 in carcinoma was significantly associated with a lower mean Ki67 LI and with favorable histopathologic parameters. We conclude that bcl-2 oncoprotein expression is probably an early step in the process of colon carcinogenesis, and its expression may be associated with a favorable clinical course. Furthermore, an inverse relationship exists between bcl-2 and Ki67 in colonic neoplasia. Evaluation of bcl-2 and Ki67 IHC expression in colonic carcinoma should be performed prospectively to determine if their expression is of value in predicting the clinical course in these patients.
Saleh
H A
HA
The Detroit Medical Center/Grace Hospital, Wayne State University, Department of Pathology, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Jackson
H
H
Khatib
G
G
Banerjee
M
M
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2