Expression of bcl-2 and Bax in EGFR-antisense transfected and untransfected glioblastoma cells

Glioblastomas are the most frequent and most malignant astrocytic gliomas. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is the most frequently amplified and overexpressed in glioblastomas. The expression of bcl-2 and Bax in EGFR-antisense transfected and un-transfected glioblastoma cell line, U87E and U87V was studied by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Our results show that the expression of Bax was stronger and bcl-2 was weaker in EGFR-antisense transfected cell line than the untransfected control. Bcl-2 and Bax genes are probably involved in the reduction of malignancy of glioblastoma cell caused by the introduction of EGFR-antisense into these tumor cells.