title: Original Article: Investigation of Bcl-2 and PCNA in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Relation to Chronic HCV.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bcl-2 family members can be functionally divided into anti-apoptotic and proapoptotic groups. The balance between these two groups may determine the fate of tumor cells. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), this balance is often tilted towards the anti-apoptotic members in tumor cells, leading to resistance to cell death and rapid proliferation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current study, we investigated Bcl-2 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemically, using specific monoclonal antibodies in liver tissues obtained from two patient groups. The first group included fifty patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) without hepatocellular carcinoma, the other group included twenty five HCVinfected patients but with confirmed HCC. Serum Bcl-2 was assayed using enzyme immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed serum Bcl-2 was elevated in 82% versus 100% in HCC-free and HCC patients, respectively. Moreover, cytoplasmic staining of Bcl-2 was found in only 16% of chronic HCV patients without HCC, versus 8% in HCC patients. On the other hand, nuclear staining of PCNA was detected in 100% of HCC patients, but in none of the HCV patients without HCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results collectively suggest that in HCV-infected patients with and without HCC, apoptosis is dysregulated and proliferation activity perturbed. There may be prognostic and/or diagnostic potential in estimating Bcl-2 and PCNA proteins in these patient groups.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Bcl-2 - PCNA - Apoptosis - HCC - HCV.
authors.affiliation: The Departments of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medial Sciences, Al-Kharj University, Al-Kharj.
authors.forename: Faris Q
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Alenzi
authors.forename: Eman M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: El-Nashar
authors.forename: Saad S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Al-Ghamdi
authors.forename: Mohammed Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Abubaker M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hamad
authors.forename: Osama M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: El-Saeed
authors.forename: Richard K H
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wyse
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lotfy