Prognostic value of immunohistochemical expression of p53, bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in resected non-small-cell lung cancers.
OBJECTIVE
Some experimental evidence suggests that in lung cancer, development, progression and an increased proliferation rate can be linked to apoptosis-related factors. In this study we evaluated the possible role of p53 and Bcl-2 gene family members as prognostic factors for non-small-cell lung cancer.


RESULTS
We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and Bcl-2 gene family members (bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) in 94 non-small-cell lung cancer specimens to establish the role of these genes in lung cancer pathogenesis, and to evaluate their prognostic importance. The expression of Bcl-2 was correlated with a shorter patient survival time and with the nodal status of the neoplasm. We also found frequent over-expression of bax and Bcl-xL to be of no prognostic significance. Finally, we found no correlation between frequent detection of aberrant p53 protein and expression of either Bcl-2, bax or Bcl-xL or with patient survival time.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms a relevant role for apoptosis-regulatory proteins in the pathogenesis of lung cancer, and highlights the possible role of Bcl-2 as a prognostic factor for this tumour.
Groeger
A M
AM
Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Esposito
V
V
De Luca
A
A
Cassandro
R
R
Tonini
G
G
Ambrogi
V
V
Baldi
F
F
Goldfarb
R
R
Mineo
T C
TC
Baldi
A
A
Wolner
E
E
D017209:Apoptosis; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
C494826:BAX protein, human; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein