title: Impact of frequent Bcl-2 expression on better prognosis in renal cell carcinoma patients.
abstract: Previously, we reported that Bcl-2 was frequently expressed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) specimens, but p53 mutation was a rare event. However, it was unclear whether Bcl-2 positivity was associated with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in RCC. Therefore, we investigated the expression of Bcl-2 protein and its roles in 101 RCC specimens. In addition, the proliferation index (PI), apoptotic index (AI), caspase-3 and p53 expression were examined. The immunohistochemical method was applied for Bcl-2, caspase-3 and p53 protein expression. To investigate the proliferation activity and apoptosis of tumour cells, PI and AI were calculated based on Ki-67 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labelling (TUNEL)-positive cells, respectively. Bcl-2 expression was detected in 72 out of 101 (71.3%) specimens. Bcl-2 positivity was inversely correlated with PI (P<0.0001) and AI (P=0.0074). Furthermore, Bcl-2 positivity was significantly correlated with better survival (P=0.0014), and was associated with lower stage (P=0.0301) and grade (P=0.0020). In RCC, frequent Bcl-2 expression was correlated with favourable character without higher PI and AI. Thus, Bcl-2 expression might be applied as a novel predictor of better prognosis in RCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Signal Transduction Research, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Asahimachi 1-757, Niigata 951-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itoi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamana
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bilim
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2