[Immunohistochemical expression of bcl-2, bcl-xL, bax, p53 proteins in gastric adenoma and adenocarcinoma].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of bcl-2, bcl-xL, bax, and p53 proteins according to the pathological parameters such as grade of dysplasia, histological type, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage in the gastric adenoma and gastric adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal bcl-2, bcl-xL, bax, p53 antibodies were performed on paraffin embedded specimens from forty-one gastric adenomas and 100 gastric adenocarcinomas.

RESULTS

The expression rate of bcl-2 was higher in adenomas (34.2%), especially in high grade dysplasia (52.4%), than adenocarcinomas (2.0%). The expression rate of bcl-xL was higher in adenocarcinomas (55.0%) than adenomas (22%). The expression rate of the bax was higher in adenocarcinomas (58.0%) than adenomas (14.6%). In the adenocarcinoma, the bax expression was significantly related with the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage. The expression rate of p53 was higher in adenocarcinomas (64.0%) than adenomas (14.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Bcl-2 protein would be related with the development of gastric adenoma, especially with high grade dysplasia. Bcl-xL and p53 proteins would be involved in the development of relatively early stage of gastric adenocarcinoma but not in tumor progression. Bax protein would be involved in the development of gastric adenocarcinoma and related with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage.