Expression of bcl‐2 protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and its association with lymph node metastasis

• Published in: Cancer 1997-04, Vol.79 (7), p.1287-1293
• Main Authors: Ohbu, Makoto, Saegusa, Makoto, Kobayashi, Nobuyuki, Tsukamoto, Hideto, Mieno, Hironobu, Kakita, Akira, Okayasu, Isao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: bcl‐2; Biological and medical sciences; carcinoma; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Disease-Free Survival; Esophageal Neoplasms - metabolism; Esophagus; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; lymph node metastasis; Lymphatic Metastasis; Medical sciences; Prognosis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; Tumors
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19970401)79:7<1287::AID-CNCR3>3.0.CO;2-E

BACKGROUND Recent studies on the role of bcl‐2 in malignant tumors have suggested its prognostic significance. The goals of the current study were to determine any correlation between bcl‐2 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and histopathology, lymph node metastasis, and clinical variables, and to assess its applicability as a parameter for prognosis. METHODS Immunohistochemical staining for bcl‐2 (clone 124) was performed on archival material from 105 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. The results were compared among patient subgroups. RESULTS bcl‐2 was expressed in 58% of esophageal carcinomas, demonstrating positive correlations with a lack of keratinization and an early stage of disease. Lymph node metastasis was significantly less frequently observed in the subset of early stage carcinomas with bcl‐2 staining. Univariate analysis revealed significantly longer disease free survival in patients with bcl‐2 positive carcinomas than in those bcl‐2 negative. bcl‐2 expression did not have independent prognostic value in a multivariate survival analysis. CONCLUSIONS bcl‐2 is frequently expressed in esophageal carcinomas, and this expression is positively associated with nonkeratinization and an early stage, whereas it is negatively linked with lymph node metastasis and may indicate a favorable prognosis. Cancer 1997; 79:1287‐93. © 1997 American Cancer Society. bcl‐2 expression is associated with reduced metastasis to lymph nodes and may be linked with improved survival.