TY - JOUR
TI - Prognostic significance of p53, bax and bcl-2 gene expression in
patients with laryngeal carcinoma
AU - Georgiou, A
AU - Gomatos, IP
AU - Ferekidis, E
AU - Syrigos, K
AU - Bistola,
AU - V
AU - Giotakis, J
AU - Adamopoulos, G
AU - Androulakis, G
JO - European Journal of Surgical Oncology
PY - 2001
VL - 27
TODO - 6
SP - 574-580
PB - W B SAUNDERS CO LTD
SN - 0748-7983
TODO - 10.1053/ejso.2001.1131
TODO - bax; bcl-2; p53; laryngeal cancer
TODO - Aim: This study was designed to examine the prognostic significance of
the coexpression of three genes (bax, bcl-2 and p53) which play a
critical role in the apoptotic mechanisms in patients with squamous cell
laryngeal carcinoma.(1-3)
Materials and Methods: The immunohistochemical expression of bcl-2, bax
and p53 genes was retrospectively examined in 38 patients with squarrous
cell laryngeal carcinoma and in five controls (necrotomic tissue).
Tissue specimens were obtained both during the diagnostic biopsy and at
the time of surgery. Clinicopathological and survival data were
correlated with the staining results.
Results: Bcl-2 protein expression (P=0.0472), stage (P=0.0087) and
lymph-node involvement (P=0.0488) were found to be independent
prognostic factors. Increased bcl-2 protein expression correlated with a
better 5-year survival (P=0.0472). Patients who were bcl-2(-)/p53(-)
(n=25) or bax(+)/bcl-2(-) (n = 13) had a significantly worse overall
survival (P=0.0305 andP=0.0482, respectively). Similarly, patients who
were bax(+)/bcl-2(-)/p53(-) (n = 11) also had a worse 5-year survival
compared with the rest of the group (P=0.0088). Changes that were
noticed in bax and p53 protein expression from the time of biopsy until
the time of surgery did not correlate with a significant increase in the
overall survival.
Conclusions: The expression of bcl-2 gene appears to be an independent
prognostic factor for patients with laryngeal carcinoma. The
coexpression of the genes studied can be used to determine aggressive
clinical phenotypes. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
ER -