Stark Andreas M, Hugo Heinz-Herrmann, Tscheslog Hauke, Mehdorn H Maximilian
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Schleswig-Holstein Medical Center, Campus Kiel, Schittenhelmstr. 10, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
Neurol Res. 2007 Jul;29(5):435-40. doi: 10.1179/016164107X165282.
Metastasis to the brain is a severe and common complication in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The examination of cell cycle associated genes in these lesions may contribute to the understanding of metastatic growths in the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the p53, BCL-2 and BAX mRNA and protein expression in NSCLC brain metastases in comparison with matched primary tumors.
For quantitative TaqMan real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), fresh frozen tumor specimens from 12 patients with NSCLC brain metastases were available. For immunohistochemical staining, 78 surgically removed NSCLC brain metastases were used. PCR results were analysed using the DeltaDeltaCT method. Staining was analysed using a modified immunoreactive score (IRS).
Overall, p53, BCL-2 and BAX expression values in brain metastases and primary tumors showed a wide variety. The comparison of different techniques revealed different findings on the mRNA and protein level. Herein, PCR and ELISA revealed no clear tendencies. In contrast, immunohistochemistry showed significant overexpression of BAX and underexpression of BCL-2 in brain metastases.
A high variability in the expression of p53, BCL-2 and BAX in NSCLC exists in brain metastases. Immunohistochemistry revealed overexpression of BAX and underexpression of BCL-2 in brain metastases, whereas there were no clear tendencies using PCR and ELISA techniques. More insights into the BAX/BCL-2 interaction are needed before reasonable conclusions can be drawn from the existing data.
脑转移是非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）中一种严重且常见的并发症。对这些病变中细胞周期相关基因的检测可能有助于理解中枢神经系统中的转移性生长。本研究的目的是评估NSCLC脑转移瘤中p53、BCL-2和BAX mRNA及蛋白表达，并与配对的原发性肿瘤进行比较。
对于定量TaqMan实时逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA），有来自12例NSCLC脑转移患者的新鲜冷冻肿瘤标本。对于免疫组织化学染色，使用了78例手术切除的NSCLC脑转移瘤。PCR结果采用DeltaDeltaCT方法进行分析。染色采用改良免疫反应评分（IRS）进行分析。
总体而言，脑转移瘤和原发性肿瘤中p53、BCL-2和BAX的表达值差异很大。不同技术的比较在mRNA和蛋白水平上显示出不同的结果。在此，PCR和ELISA未显示出明显趋势。相比之下，免疫组织化学显示脑转移瘤中BAX显著过表达，BCL-2表达不足。
NSCLC脑转移瘤中p53、BCL-2和BAX的表达存在高度变异性。免疫组织化学显示脑转移瘤中BAX过表达，BCL-2表达不足，而使用PCR和ELISA技术则没有明显趋势。在从现有数据得出合理结论之前，需要对BAX/BCL-2相互作用有更多的了解。
