Bcl-2 expression in rectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
[corrected] Proteins involved in apoptosis process seem to play an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of bcl-2 protein immunohistochemical expression and its relation with clinical and histopathological variables of rectal adenocarcinoma.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-two patients operated at "Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre", Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, between 1988 and 1999 were studied through immunohistochemical reaction using a monoclonal antibody anti-bcl-2 on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples


RESULTS
The prevalence of bcl-2 protein was 29.5%. There was a significant increased number of positive bcl-2 cases among women as compared to men. There was no significant association between bcl-2 and age, tumour site, histological grade, mucin production, depth of invasion, lymphatic involvement, distant metastasis or stage, despite a trend showing decreased immunoreactivity to bcl-2 among poorly and moderately differentiated tumours, as well as disseminated disease


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of bcl-2 protein expression in tumour tissues, as well as other oncoproteins, may have a role in predict therapeutic response and prognosis of colorectal cancer. However, the potential use of bcl-2 protein assessment in the clinical set for management of rectal cancer remains to be determined.
Contu
Paulo C
PC
Post-graduate Programme in Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Contu
Simone S
SS
Moreira
Luis F
LF
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2