Incidence of Bcl-2 expression in bladder cancer: relation to schistosomiasis.
OBJECTIVE
Apoptosis (programmed cell death) and the genes regulating this process (e.g., Bcl-2) have recently become a focus of interest in the study of cancer development and progression. The bcl-2 gene product plays a role as an inhibitor of apoptosis; it contributes to oncogenesis by suppressing signals that induce apoptotic cell death. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of bcl-2 in schistosomal bladder cancer and to compare it with the established clinicopathological factors.


METHODS
Tumor tissues from 118 patients with bladder cancer were examined [57 with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and the remaining 61 with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC)]. Of 118 patients, 60 had schistosomiasis associated with bladder cancer. Bcl-2 expression was determined by enzyme immunoassay and the results were confirmed by Western blot and immunodot blot techniques.


RESULTS
Bcl-2 was significantly expressed in SCC compared to those with TCC type in the presence of schistosomiasis. Moreover, bcl-2 was associated with clinical stages and lymph node involvement but not with histological grades.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations detect a potential role for bcl-2 expression in schistosomal carcinogenesis, and hence selecting patients for future anti-bcl-2 therapy.
Swellam
Menha
M
Biochemistry Department, National Research Center [corrected] Cairo, Egypt. menha_m_swellam@hotmail.com
Abd-Elmaksoud
Nabila
N
Halim
Mohab H
MH
Khatab
Hany
H
Khiry
Hosni
H
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*