Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 expression in bilharzial squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: which protein is prognostic?
OBJECTIVE
Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL are the most important antiapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family frequently overexpressed in bladder cancer. Overexpression of Bcl-XL bilharzial-related bladder cancer was associated with tumor progression. However, the negative prognostic value of Bcl-2 expression is still questionable. This work studied the expression of Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 immunohistochemically in bilharzial-related squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and determined their prognostic value in relation to recurrence after radical cystectomy.


METHODS
A total of 72 patients with muscle-invasive bilharzial squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder underwent radical cystectomy at our institution. The specimens were examined immunohistochemically for Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 expression. The patients were followed up for 3 years or until recurrence. The expression of Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 were related to the other prognostic indicators and patient survival.


RESULTS
The expressions of both Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL were significantly different according to the grade of malignancy. Bcl-XL expression was significantly related to tumor recurrence, but Bcl-2 expression was not.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, the present study is the first report of a negative prognostic value for Bcl-XL in bilharzial squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. However, this is another negative report on the prognostic value of bcl-2 in bilharzial bladder tumors.
Hameed
Diaa A
DA
Department of Urology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. diaa_hameed@hotmail.com
Abdel Raheem
Ahmad M
AM
Mosad
Eman
E
Hammouda
Hisham M
HM
Kamel
Nermen A
NA
Abdel Aziz
Mohammad Atef
MA
D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D051020:bcl-X Protein