[Effect of preoperative lymphatic chemotherapy on Bcl-2 and Bax expression in axillary metastasis of breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins and cell apoptosis induced by preoperative lymphatic chemotherapy with epirubicin-activated carbon suspension (Epi-CH) in the cells of axillary metastatic lymph node of breast cancer and investigate the mechanism.


METHODS
Sixty patients with breast cancer of stages II-III were randomly divided into two groups. Forty patients in Epi-CH group were injected with 10 mg Epi-CH in the tissue around the primary tumor or biopsy excision 72 h before operation. Twenty patients in the control group were injected with 10 mg epirubicin solution in the same region. The stained lymph nodes full of tumor cells in Epi-CH group and the non-stained nodes in the control group were selected for apoptotic detection by TUNEL method. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were examined by SP immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
The apoptotic index of the metastatic cancer cells in Epi-CH group was increased remarkably in comparison with that in the control group [(9.5+/-2.7) % vs (3.8+/-1.4) %, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were up-regulated significantly in Epi-CH group (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively), resulting in decreased ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphatic chemotherapy can promote cell apotosis in axillary metastasis of breast cancer, which may result from decreased ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.
Wu
Wu-jun
WJ
Department of General Surgery, First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. wwj1976495@163.com
Pan
Cheng-en
CE
Zeng
Jian
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007272:Injections, Intralymphatic; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D015251:Epirubicin