title: Predictive value of P53, BCL-2, and BAX in advanced head and neck carcinoma.
abstract: Because the apoptotic process appears to be involved in the response-to-treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, we investigated the prognostic value of the expression of three apoptosis-associated genes (p53, Bax, and Bcl-2) in tumor biopsies from patients with locally advanced head and neck carcinoma. Using specific monoclonal antibodies, immunohistochemical staining for p53, Bax, and Bcl-2 was performed on tumor material from 43 patients before their scheduled adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Results indicated that the response to treatment was 83.7% (36 of 43 patients). Bax staining was positive in 8 cases (19.5%), p53 in 19 (47.5%), and Bcl-2 in 4 patients (10.8%). There were no statistically significant correlations between any of the apoptosis genes assayed and the patients' response to treatment or to overall survival. In the univariate statistical analysis, response-to-treatment was the only significant variable (p = 0.013) predictive of survival rate. These results suggest that p53, Bax, and Bcl-2 expression are not significant predictive factors of response to induction treatment in locally advanced head and neck carcinoma and that their routine use as prognostic markers cannot be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Txagorritxu-Vitoria, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casado
authors.forename: Jerónimo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forteza
authors.forename: Severina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: M Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Abad
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Iratxe
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Intxaurbe
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: del Campo
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; D015415:Biomarkers; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein