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BAX protein is not expressed by basal cell carcinomas
K Rossen1, A Karabulut Thorup, K Hou-Jensen
1Department of Pathology, Gentofte University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark.
The British Journal of Dermatology
|October 10, 1998
Summary
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) growth is not regulated by the BAX protein, a key apoptosis promoter. This suggests BCC apoptosis involves other BCL2 gene family members or different pathways.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The BCL2 gene family regulates apoptosis, a key process in cell death.
- The BAX protein is a known apoptosis-promoting factor.
- High apoptotic activity has been hypothesized to explain the slow growth of basal cell carcinoma (BCC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of the apoptosis-promoting BAX protein in basal cell carcinoma (BCC).
- To determine if BAX protein is involved in the apoptotic pathway of BCC.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on 27 BCC tissue samples.
- The expression of BAX protein was assessed in these samples.
Main Results:
- Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) samples did not show detectable levels of BAX protein expression via immunohistochemistry.
- These findings indicate that BAX protein is not involved in the apoptosis of BCC.
Conclusions:
- Apoptosis in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) does not appear to involve the BAX protein.
- The apoptotic pathway in BCC may be regulated by alternative members of the BCL2 gene family or by non-BCL2-dependent mechanisms.