BACKGROUND: Bcl-2 is one of the most important antiapoptotic genes. Although it facilitates the survival of tumor cells, its expression has been consistently associated with a better prognosis for breast cancer. Virtually all studies on Bcl-2 conducted in breast cancer have been carried out by means of immunohistochemistry. The aim of this study was to examine for the first time the expression of Bcl-2 in a series of human breast cancer, both at the mRNA and protein level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred samples from previously untreated human breast cancers were used; Bcl-2 expression was determined both by means of immunohistochemistry using the bcl-2/100/D5 monoclonal antibody and differential RT-PCR. Additionally, the expression of hormone receptors (ER and PR), c-erb-B2, p53 and the proliferation-associated Ki-67 antigen were also studied by means of immunohistochemistry as part of the standard pathological workup. RESULTS: Any degree of immunohistochemical staining correlated significantly and inversely with c-erb-B2 expression (p = 0.0008), nuclear grade 3 (p = 0.0015), a Ki-67 labeling index > 10% (p = 0.02) and tumor size (p = 0.048), and in a direct fashion with estrogen (p = 0.0003) and progesterone receptor expression (p = 0.0002). mRNA expression of the Bcl-2 gene showed a significant inverse correlation with c-erb-B2 (p = 0.016) and p53 (p = 0.014) expression, as well as with a nuclear grade 3 (p = 0.006), and a direct correlation with estrogen (p = 0.0004) and progesterone (p = 0.001) receptor expression, as well as with nodal invasion (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The study of Bcl-2 expression in breast cancer by means of either immunohistochemistry or RT-PCR yields very similar results. In spite of its role opposing tumor cell death, Bcl-2 is associated with biological features of the tumors which define a better intrinsic prognosis, such as hormone receptor expression, low proliferation and absence of c-erb-B2 and mutant p53 expression. This may in great part explain why Bcl-2 expression has been invariably found to correlate with a better prognosis of breast cancer.
BACKGROUND:Bcl-2 is one of the most important antiapoptotic genes. Although it facilitates the survival of tumor cells, its expression has been consistently associated with a better prognosis for breast cancer. Virtually all studies on Bcl-2 conducted in breast cancer have been carried out by means of immunohistochemistry. The aim of this study was to examine for the first time the expression of Bcl-2 in a series of humanbreast cancer, both at the mRNA and protein level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred samples from previously untreated humanbreast cancers were used; Bcl-2 expression was determined both by means of immunohistochemistry using the bcl-2/100/D5 monoclonal antibody and differential RT-PCR. Additionally, the expression of hormone receptors (ER and PR), c-erb-B2, p53 and the proliferation-associated Ki-67 antigen were also studied by means of immunohistochemistry as part of the standard pathological workup. RESULTS: Any degree of immunohistochemical staining correlated significantly and inversely with c-erb-B2 expression (p = 0.0008), nuclear grade 3 (p = 0.0015), a Ki-67 labeling index > 10% (p = 0.02) and tumor size (p = 0.048), and in a direct fashion with estrogen (p = 0.0003) and progesterone receptor expression (p = 0.0002). mRNA expression of the Bcl-2 gene showed a significant inverse correlation with c-erb-B2 (p = 0.016) and p53 (p = 0.014) expression, as well as with a nuclear grade 3 (p = 0.006), and a direct correlation with estrogen (p = 0.0004) and progesterone (p = 0.001) receptor expression, as well as with nodal invasion (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The study of Bcl-2 expression in breast cancer by means of either immunohistochemistry or RT-PCR yields very similar results. In spite of its role opposing tumor cell death, Bcl-2 is associated with biological features of the tumors which define a better intrinsic prognosis, such as hormone receptor expression, low proliferation and absence of c-erb-B2 and mutant p53 expression. This may in great part explain why Bcl-2 expression has been invariably found to correlate with a better prognosis of breast cancer.
Authors: Álvaro Ruibal; Pablo Aguiar; María Carmen Del Río; Primitiva Menéndez; José Ignacio Arias; Michel Herranz Journal: Med Oncol Date: 2014-07-10 Impact factor: 3.064
Authors: Ning Zhang; Xiaoyan Li; Kai Tao; Liyu Jiang; Tingting Ma; Shi Yan; Cunzhong Yuan; Meena S Moran; Faming Liang; Bruce G Haffty; Qifeng Yang Journal: BMC Med Genet Date: 2011-04-01 Impact factor: 2.103
Authors: Yasmine Nadler; Robert L Camp; Jennifer M Giltnane; Christopher Moeder; David L Rimm; Harriet M Kluger; Yuval Kluger Journal: Breast Cancer Res Date: 2008-04-23 Impact factor: 6.466