title: Evaluation of potential prognostic value of Bmi-1 gene product and selected markers of proliferation (Ki-67) and apoptosis (p53) in the neuroblastoma group of tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer in children is a very important issue in pediatrics. The least satisfactory treatment outcome occurs among patients with clinically advanced neuroblastomas. Despite much research, the biology of this tumor still remains unclear, and new prognostic factors are sought. The Bmi-1 gene product is a currently highly investigated protein which belongs to the Polycomb group (PcG) and has been identified as a regulator of primary neural crest cells. It is believed that Bmi‑1 and N-myc act together and are both involved in the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma. The aim of the study was to assess the potential prognostic value of Bmi-1 protein and its relations with mechanisms of proliferation and apoptosis in the neuroblastoma group of tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  29 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded neuroblastoma tissue sections were examined using mouse monoclonal antibodies anti-Bmi-1, anti-p53 and anti-Ki-67 according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were found statistically significant correlations between Bmi-1 expression and tumor histology and age of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bmi-1 seems to be a promising marker in the neuroblastoma group of tumors whose expression correlates with widely accepted prognostic parameters. The pattern of BMI-1 expression may indicate that the examined protein is also involved in maturation processes in tumor tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taran
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Oncology, Konopnicka Memorial Hospital Medical, University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wysocka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Oncology, Konopnicka Memorial Hospital Medical, University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sitkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pathology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Józef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kobos
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery and Oncology, Konopnicka Memorial Hospital Medical, University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andrzejewska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C069077:BMI1 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1