Expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax proteins in astrocytomas in relation to patient survival.
The Bcl-2 family is composed of a group of related proteins that either prevent or promote apoptosis. This study was undertaken to assess the prognostic value of Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax in patients with astrocytomas. Tissue samples from 104 astrocytomas (WHO grade 2, 21 cases: grade 3, 49 cases; grade 4, 34 cases), including 68 primary and 36 recurrent tumors, were examined immunohistochemically for Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax expression. Patient charts were reviewed for clinical presentation, and survival was followed. The mean values of the Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax labeling indexes (LI) were 15.9 +/- 13.1%, 53.2 +/- 35.3%, and 25.9 +/- 23.2%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that the Bcl-x LI of high-grade (grade 3 or 4) astrocytomas was higher than that of low-grade (grade 2) tumors (P = 0.0064). There were no significant differences in patient survival between the high- and low-LI groups of Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax. Since the mechanism and regulation of apoptosis are still unclear, it seems difficult to use the Bcl-2 family as a biological marker in predicting the prognosis of patients with astrocytomas.
Daido
S
S
Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Japan.
Tamiya
T
T
Ono
Y
Y
Terada
K
K
Mizumatsu
S
S
Ohmoto
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2