Bax and Bcl-X(L) expression are not related to prognosis in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Bax and Bcl-X(L) genes play an important role in the apoptotic pathway. These expressions were immunohistochemically investigated in 111 patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The positive rates of p53, Bax, and Bcl-X(L) were 42.3, 38.7, and 46.8%, respectively. The expression of both Bax and Bcl-X(L) was not related to clinicopathological findings, including survival. Neither Bax nor Bcl-X(L) expression correlated with p53 overexpression. Five-year survival rate did not differ according to the co-expression pattern of Bax and Bcl-X(L). In 44 patients who underwent chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy after surgery, Bax and Bcl-X(L) expression was not related to patients' survival. Multiple apoptotic pathways may be associated with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.