Molecular markers in gastric cancer: can p53 and bcl-2 protein expressions be used as prognostic factors?
BACKGROUND
The prognostic value of p53 and bcl-2 protein expressions in gastric cancer is still unclear, as shown by the discordant results still reported in the literature.


METHODS
In this study, p53 and bcl-2 protein expressions were investigated by immunohistochemistry and correlated with various clinicopathological parameters and survival, in a series of 52 gastric cancer patients who underwent potentially curative gastrectomy.


RESULTS
p53 expression was observed in 34 patients (65.4%) and was significantly correlated with the intestinal type of cancer (p=0.018). Bcl-2 expression was detected in 12 patients (23.1%) and inversely correlated with lymph node metastasis (p=0.042) and tumour grade (p=0.024). There was a statistically significant inverse relationship between p53 and bcl-2 expression (p=0.014). Moreover, p53 and bcl-2 protein expressions had no significant influence on overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the expression of p53 and bcl-2 proteins has no significant impact on the outcome of patients with gastric cancer.
Zafirellis
Kyriakos
K
First Propaedeutic Department of Surgery, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. kzafirellis1@yahoo.com
Karameris
Andreas
A
Milingos
Nikolaos
N
Androulakis
George
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53