Expression of p53, bcl-2 and Ki-67 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the expression of p53, bcl-2 and Ki-67 in the progression of cervical neoplasia.


METHODS
A total of 131 cervical specimens, consisting of normal cervical epithelium (n = 43), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lesions (n =40) and cervical squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) (n = 48) were examined immunohistochemically in paraffin sections for expression of p53, bcl-2 and Ki-67.


RESULTS
Immunoreactivity of p53 was found in 27% of SCC cases, but it had no significant relationship with SCC staging (p = 0.791). Immunoreactivity of bcl-2 was observed in 33% of CIN 3 cases. We found a significant relationship (chi2 test: p = 0.009) between the expression of bcl-2 and CIN grading. Ki-67 index was higher in high grade CIN (HGCIN: CIN 2 and 3) and SCC lesions compared to normal cervices. Ki-67 index showed a correlation with bcl-2 protein expression (p = 0.030), but not with p53 protein expression (p = 0.239).


CONCLUSIONS
HGCIN is an early stage to demonstrate the alteration of bcl-2 and Ki-67 expressions. Progression of neoplasia in the uterine cervix is accompanied by an increase of antiapoptotic protein, bcl-2 as well as cellular proliferation.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mee Lee
ML
Looi
Ahmad Zailani Hatta Mohd
AZ
Dali
Siti Aishah Md
SA
Ali
Wan Zurinah Wan
WZ
Ngah
Yasmin Anum Mohd
YA
Yusof
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53