title: Immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 protein in breast lesions: correlation with Bax, p53, Rb, C-erbB-2, EGFR and proliferation indices.
abstract: Expression of bcl-2 protein was investigated and correlated with Bax, p53 and Rb proteins, c-erbB-2, EGFR and the proliferation indices PCNA, Ki-67 and MIB1 as well as with the conventional clinicopathological parameters in 95 cases for breast cancer tissue and 20 cases of benign hyperplastic lesions. Bcl-2 and Bax proteins immunoreactivity was detected in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic breast epithelium. Expression of the bcl-2 protein was detected in 40% of carcinomas (> 10% positive neoplastic cells) and 85.2% of the benign hyperplastic lesions. Bax protein expression was detected in 8.1% of the carcinomas and 5.3% in the hyperplastic group. Rb and p53 proteins were detected in 75.5% and 45.5% of carcinomas. No relationship was observed between bcl-2 expression and patient's age, tumour size, tumour type and grade, lymph node status, Rb protein expression and proliferation indices. However, a strong positive relationship was detected between bcl-2 and Bax (p = 0.008), estrogen (ER) (p = 0.007) and progesterone receptors' (PgR) status (p = 0.0003). An inverse correlation with p53 protein (p = 0.004) was detected. Furthermore, a strong correlation was also observed between pRb and p53 (p = 0.001). The results indicate that in breast cancer bcl-2 protein expression may be under hormonal control. Since the expression is bcl-2 protein was inversely correlated with p53 protein expression, we suggest that bcl-2 may be related with favourable outcome in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Ioachim
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Malamou-Mitsi
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kamina
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Goussia
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Agnantis
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000737:chemistry; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000737:chemistry; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000737:chemistry; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C494826:BAX protein, human