title: Prostate tumours from an Asian population: examination of bax, bcl-2, p53 and ras and identification of bax as a prognostic marker.
abstract: Molecular studies have suggested that ethnicity may play a significant role in prostate tumorigenesis, but no information exists for groups other than Caucasian or Japanese patients. We examined 62 archival samples of prostate tumours from Asians of non-Japanese origin for the over-expression of p53, for the possible presence of mutated ras genes, for the overexpression of the bcl-2 and bax proteins, as well as directly for the presence of apoptotic cells by the TUNEL methodology. Gene lesions of both ras (0%) and p53 (3%) were rare. While bcl-2 expression was not observed in any sample, bax expression was noted in 76% of samples and was associated with a significantly worse patient prognosis both overall (P< 0.005) and specifically in Chinese patients (P< 0.02). Apoptotic cells were found in 61% of samples, and were significantly associated with the presence of bax expression (P = 0.002), but not patient survival. These results suggest that prostate tumours from non-Japanese Asians are genetically distinct from prostate tumour found in both Japanese and Caucasian patients, and that treatment modalities may need to be tailored for specific population groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Molecular Biology Laboratory, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Moulmein Road, 308433, Singapore.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elnatan
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016019:Survival Analysis; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein