Alterations of p53, Bcl-2, and hMSH2 protein expression in the cirrhotic, macroregenerative, dysplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas in Upper Egypt.
BACKGROUND
Hepatocarcinogenesis involves alterations in p53, Bcl-2 and human Mut S homologue-2 (hMSH2) genes. In Upper Egypt, the clinicopathologic and genetic changes during hepatocarcinogensis (cirrhotic nodules (CN); macroregenerative nodules (MRN) and dysplastic nodules (DN) are unknown.


METHODS
To examine these issues, 48 hepatic resection specimens entailing 25 CN, 16 MRN, 23 DN and 48 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were immunohistochemically evaluated for p53, Bcl-2 and hMSH2 protein expression.


RESULTS
HCC was common in males than in females (2.6:1, P<0.05) and with hepatitis C virus than hepatitis B virus infection (77.1% vs. 18.7%, P=0.001). p53 expression was found in DN (3/23) and HCC (12/48). Its average weighted scores were high in DN/HCC as compared with CN (1.60+/-0.40 and 7.20+/-1.20, P=0.0001). Bcl-2 expression was seen in CN, MRN, DN and HCC (7/48). Its average weighted scores were high in DN (7.60+/-1.60), HCC (6.86+/-0.85) as compared with CN (6.14+/-0.42) and MRN (6.50+/-0.50, P=0.22). hMSH2 average weighted scores were reduced in HCC (7.94+/-1.06) as compared with CN (8.47+/-0.52), MRN (8.00+/-1.00) and DN (8.20+/-0.80, P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In Upper Egypt: (1) HCC had similar clinicopathologic features to those in the high-risk regions, and (2) alterations of the p53, Bcl-2 and hMSH2 proteins occur during hepatocarcinogensis.
Hussein
Mahmoud R
MR
Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt. mrh17@swissinfo.org
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D005819:Genetic Markers; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2