title: The evaluation of bcl-2 expression as a prognostic marker in early stage laryngeal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of bcl-2 expression on the local control and overall survival of patients with early stage laryngeal cancer treated with radiotherapy alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 53 patients with stage Tis, T1, and T2 laryngeal cancer who were irradiated in our department. Paraffin blocks of all biopsy specimens were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis with a bcl-2 oncoprotein mouse clone 124 Scytek kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up time was 61 months (range, 7-166). Local-regional recurrence was observed in 10 (19%) patients. Forty-three patients (81%) had negative bcl-2 staining, 5 patients (9%) had + staining, 3 patients (6%) ++ staining, and 2 patients (4%) +++ staining. No relationship was detected between bcl-2 expression and local control or overall survival. The emergence of a recurrence and a younger age (<50 years) were significantly related to poor overall survival (P = 0.000 and P = 0.021, respectively). Patients with hemoglobin levels in the middle of radiotherapy and at the end of radiotherapy higher than 13 g/dl had improved overall survival in multivariate analyses (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001, respectively). Regarding local control, the following were poor prognostic factors: smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day (P = 0.001) and being younger than 50 years of age (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No correlation was observed between bcl-2 expression and local control or overall survival. Whereas hemoglobin level, age and existence of a recurrence had a prognostic impact on overall survival, patient age and smoking status influenced local control rates.
authors: Umit
authors: U
authors: Gurlek
authors: Candan
authors: C
authors: Demiroz Abakay
authors: Lütfi
authors: L
authors: Ozkan
authors: Ozlem
authors: O
authors: Saraydaroglu
authors: Meral
authors: M
authors: Kurt
authors: Sibel
authors: S
authors: Kahraman Çetintas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D012008:Recurrence; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2