[Expression of bcl-2, c-erbB2, and p53 protein in cervical epithelial carcinogenesis].
OBJECTIVE
Less research of molecular biology have been reported on cervical carcinogenesis. So the authors designed this study to evaluate the expression and clinical significance of antiapoptosis gene bcl-2, oncogene c-erbB2, and tumor suppressor gene p53 in the progression of this kind of cancer.


METHODS
Using S-P immunohistochemical technique, the authors examined the expression of bcl-2, c-erbB2, and p53 in 48 squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, 42 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and 20 normal cervical tissues.


RESULTS
The expression rates of bcl-2, c-erbB2, and p53 were 72.9%(35/48), 60.4% (29/48), and 58.3% (28/48) in carcinomas, 61.9% (26/42), 38.1% (16/42), and 26.2% (11/42) in CIN, 20.0% (4/20), 0.0% (0/20), and 0.0% (0/20) in normal cervices, respectively. The overexpression of bcl-2 protein in carcinomas and in CIN was remarkably higher than that in normal cervices (P< 0.01), and the difference between carcinomas and CIN was not significant (P>0.05). There were significant differences for c-erbB2 and p53 between carcinomas and CIN and normal cervices, respectively (P< 0.05). There were significant differences for bcl-2, c-erbB2, and p53 between CIN3 and CIN1-2, respectively (P< 0.05). Expression of bcl-2 and p53 were correlated with histological type, tumor grades, and clinical stages (P< 0.05). Expression of bcl-2 was lower keratinized than nonkeratinized and was lower as tumor grades and clinical stages increased (P< 0.05). It was not associated with lymph node metastasis (P >0.05). However, the expression of p53 was contrary with bcl-2. Expression of c-erbB2 was not associated with histological type, tumor grades, clinical stages, and lymph node metastasis (P >0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In cervical carcinogenesis, the overexpression of bcl-2 protein may be activated in the early stage of pathogenesis of cervical carcinoma. Expression of c-erbB2 was the signal of cell malignant change. Expression of p53 was associated with the pathogenesis and development of cervical carcinoma.
Tang
Zhong-Hui
ZH
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Preclinical Medicine, Putian College, Putian, Fujian, 351100, PR China. tzh6409@peoplemail.com.cn
Cai
Qing-Fa
QF
Ye
Xing-An
XA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000209:etiology*
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53