Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and expression of p53, Bcl-2, and Bcl-X(L).
p53 protein promotes apoptosis, whereas Bcl-2 family proteins have an antiapoptotic function. This study determines the predictive value of selected clinical and histopathological factors in correlation with the expression of p53, Bcl-2, and Bcl-X(L) proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Paraffin-embedded sections from 19 surgically resected primary esophageal SCCs were examined by immunohistochemistry. p53 expression was related to degree of tumor differentiation (P = 0.044). Bcl-2 expression was associated with regional lymph node metastasis (P = 0.053), whereas Bcl-X(L) expression was correlated with distant metastasis (P = 0.060) and with the expression of Bcl-2 protein (P = 0.068). p53 and Bcl-2 family proteins may help to estimate the properties of esophageal SCCs and provide useful information to the oncologist for the selection of patients for intensive combined therapy modalities with curative intention or for palliative therapy.
Vlachos
Konstantinos
K
4th Surgical Department, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. vlachoskonstantinos@yahoo.com
Siafakas
Nikolaos
N
Karameris
Andreas
A
Theodoropoulos
George
G
Parassi
Ekaterini
E
Peros
George
G
Papadopoulos
Jordan
J
Hakim
Nadey
N
D017209:Apoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000032:analysis*
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051020:bcl-X Protein