title: Bcl-2 and LMP1 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinomas.
abstract: In vitro studies of B-cells immortalized by Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) have shown that B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) protein expression is upregulated by the EBV-latency-associated antigen, latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). The same phenomenon has also been observed in epithelial cells in vitro. However, such correlation between these 2 markers has not been shown in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), in which EBV infection is a well-known etiologic factor. This retrospective study examined 35 cases of undifferentiated NPC to answer the question of whether LMP1 and/or bcl-2 presence can be used as biomarkers at treatment response, as well as to see the relationship between bcl-2 and LMP in NPC. Of the 35 patients, 26 (74.3%) were bcl-2, and 10 (28.6%) were LMP1-positive. Although a significant correlation was observed between bcl-2 and LMP1 staining (P =.003), it appeared that bcl-2 expression could be independent of LMP1. Statistical analysis showed that cervical lymph node metastasis (P =.04) and cranial nerve involvement (P =.03) are the only variables that significantly affect patient survival. At this time, bcl-2 and LMP1 presence are not significant indicators of outcome; however, although they are not directly related to survival, expression of both bcl-2 and LMP1 was strongly correlated with cervical lymph node metastasis, which is a potent predictor of patient survival.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University Medical School, Department of Otolaryngology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarac
authors.forename: M U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kanbur
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poyraz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sungur
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; C484380:PDLIM7 protein, human