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Study of bcl-2 protein expression and the apoptosis phenomenon in neuroblastoma
M C Mejia1, S Navarro, A Pellin
1Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Valencia, Spain. Maria.C.Mejia@uv.es
Background:
Prognosis in neuroblastoma is based upon several clinical factors such as age, tumoral staging and other genetic factors like N-myc oncogene amplification or deletion of the short arm of chromosome 1 (del 1p). Recent reports indicate that bcl-2 protein expression is associated with a poor outcome in patients with neuroblastoma.
Materials And Methods:
We present a study of 80 cases from the files of the Spanish neuroblastoma study group (N-II-92) analysing bcl-2 protein expression by means of immunohistochemical methods and its relation with other parameters such as histopathology, PCNA expression, N-myc amplification and DNA study of apoptosis.
Results:
We found a statistical correlation between bcl-2 protein expression and unfavourable histopathology, N-myc amplification and PCNA nuclear staining. An inverse relation between bcl-2 staining and apoptosis was detected.
Conclusions:
Based on present findings it can be concluded that the determination of bcl-2 protein provides prognostic information when associated with other biological factors involved in neuroblastomas.