Expression of Bcl-2 in olfactory neuroblastoma and its association with chemotherapy and survival.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to identify the prognostic value of tumor markers in olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB).


METHODS
Seventeen patients with ONB (23 tumor specimens) were included. Each specimen was studied for bcl-2, p53, MIC-2 by immunohistochemistry and for N-myc by chromogenic in situ hybridization.


RESULTS
Twelve (70%) of 17 patients and 15 (65%) of 23 specimens showed positive reactivity for bcl-2. Of seven patients who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, one patient with diffuse bcl-2 expression achieved complete remission. Another patient without bcl-2 expression had no response to chemotherapy. Five patients who showed partial positivity achieved partial remission. Survival and bcl-2 expression tended to correlate, but it was not statistically significant (P = 0.06). All of the ONB specimens were negative for N-myc. Positive immunoreactivity for MIC-2 or p53 was found only in one specimen.


CONCLUSIONS
Bcl-2 expression was commonly found in ONB and the immunoreactivity for bcl-2 might predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In addition, Bcl-2 expression tended to be associated with worse survival.
Kim
Jeong-Whun
JW
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
Kong
Il Gyu
IG
Lee
Chul Hee
CH
Kim
Dong Young
DY
Rhee
Chae-Seo
CS
Min
Yang-Gi
YG
Kim
Chul Woo
CW
Chung
Jin-Haeng
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018304:Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2