BCL-2, BAX and P53 expression profiles in endometrial carcinoma as studied by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry.
BACKGROUND
Apoptotic genes regulate apoptosis by the action of their pro- and antiapoptotic products. Among the most important proteins are p53 and Bcl-x family proteins.


METHODS
The differential expression of these apoptotic genes were analyzed in relation to clinicopathological criteria in women with endometrial carcinoma. Thirty-three fresh tissues and 191 paraffin-embedded tissues were analyzed by real-time PCR for bcl-2/bax ratio and immunohistochemistry for p53, bcl-2 and bax proteins.


RESULTS
Bcl-2/bax ratio tended to increase in grade 3 samples compared to grade 1 tumors. Mutated p53 was frequently observed in serous-papillary endometrial carcinomas (p=0.018). Low (<10%) and moderate (10-50%) expression of mutated p53 was observed in tumors with high expression of bax protein (>0.7).


CONCLUSIONS
The Bcl-2/bax ratio is increased in grade 3 tumors. Bax protein shows a strong tendency for expression in the third group of clinical staging (stage IIb, III and IV). Poorly differentiated tumors highly expressed mutated p53.
Porichi
Ourania
O
Department of Virology, Papanikolaou Research Center of Oncology and Experimental Surgery, Aghios Savvas, Regional Anticancer Oncology Hospital of Athens, 171 Alexandras Ave., 115 22, Athens, Greece.
Nikolaidou
Maria-Evangelia
ME
Apostolaki
Aikaterini
A
Tserkezoglou
Aliki
A
Arnogiannaki
Niki
N
Kassanos
Dimitrios
D
Margaritis
Loukas
L
Panotopoulou
Efstathia
E
D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
C494826:BAX protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein