Immunohistochemical expression of bcl-2 in UICC stage I and III colorectal carcinoma patients: correlation with c-erbB-2, p53, ki-67, CD44, laminin and collagen IV in evaluating prognostic significance.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of bcl-2 in UICC stage I and stage III (Dukes's stage B and C) colorectal adenocarcinoma and to examine its association with clinicopathological features, c-erbB-2, p53, ki-67, CD44, laminin and collagen IV and long term outcome.


METHODS
Paraffin embedded specimens from 61 patients with UICC stage I (Dukes's stage B) and 39 patients with UICC stage III (Dukes's stage C) colorectal adenocarcinoma who were treated with surgery were assessed. We determined by immunohistochemistry the expression of bcl-2, c-erB-2, p53, ki-67, CD44, laminin and collagen IV with 5 year follow up.


RESULTS
Cytoplasmic staining of the bcl-2 gene product was seen in the tumour cells of 27 cases (27%). Expression of bcl-2 protein was unrelated to patient sex, age, tumour site or tumour grade, but was related to tumour stage (p = 0.012). No significant association was demonstrated between bcl-2 and c-erbB-2, p53 or CD44. However, there was very strong evidence of correlation between bcl-2 staining and ki-67, laminin and collagen IV. There was a trend towards increased survival in patients whose tumours expressed bcl-2 protein. When a correlation between bcl-2 and the other markers had been made the positive expression of bcl-2 was beneficial.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from this study would suggest that expression of bcl-2 appear to be useful in selecting a group of colorectal cancer patients with a better prognosis.
Zavrides
H
H
III Department of Surgery, Tzanio Hospital, Athens-Greece. HarrisZavrides@hotmail.com
Zizi-Sermpetzoglou
A
A
Elemenoglou
I
I
Papatheofanis
I
I
Peros
G
G
Athanasas
G
G
Panousopoulos
D
D
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D007797:Laminin; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53