Prognostic significance of bcl-2 expression in resected pN2 non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer with pathologic mediastinal lymph node involvement (pN2) is poor, we wished to study the expression of p53, bcl-2 by immunohistochemistry in a series of such patients.


METHODS
Clinicopathologic factors were investigated in relation to prognosis in 60 patients with resected pN2 non-small cell lung cancer.


RESULTS
The 5-year survival rate was 21.7%. Positive staining for p53, and bcl-2 was found in 29/60 and 12/60, respectively. Patients with bcl-2 positive tumor had a more favorable survival than those with bcl-2 negative tumor (P=0.0054). The expression of p53 was not related to patients' survival. Multivariate analysis showed that Bcl-2 expression and single N2 station were independent prognostic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with bcl-2 positive tumors may comprise a favorable prognostic subgroup in pN2 non-small cell lung cancer.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53