TP53, BCL-2, p21Waf1/Cip1 and metallothionein as markers of differentiation, response to treatment and prognosis in neuroblastic tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To identify markers of response to therapy in neuroblastic tumors.


METHODS
A total of 58 patients with neuroblastic tumor (38 neuroblastomas, 13 ganglioneuroblastomas and 7 ganglioneuromas) were included in the study. TP53, BCL-2, p21Waf1/Cip1 and metallothionein were included as a biologic approach to tumor differentiation, response to therapy and prognosis.


RESULTS
Patients who died of disease had the following immunophenotype: BCL-2 (9 of 10), nuclear TP53 (7 of 10) and metallothionein (7 of 10). TP-53 expression was related to clinical stage (p = 0.062) and disease outcome (p = 0.0218). All patients in whom treatment failed expressed metallothionein (3 of 3).


CONCLUSIONS
TP53, BCL-2, p21Waf1/Cip1 and metallothionein had limited value reflecting tumor maturation (differentiation) or predicting response to therapy. Only nuclear TP53 accumulation may be relevant in patient's prognosis.
Infanta Elena Hospital, Huelva, Spain.
Concepción
C
Lara-Bohórquez
Ricardo
R
González-Cámpora
Eladio
E
Mendoza-García
Juan José
JJ
Ríos-Martín
María Jesús
MJ
Pareja-Megía
Antonio
A
López-Beltrán
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002648:Child; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018305:Ganglioneuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D008668:Metallothionein