p53 and BCL-2 Over-Expression Inversely Correlates with Histological Differentiation in Occupational Ethmoidal Intestinal-Type Sinonasal Adenocarcinoma

• Published in: International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology 2011-07, Vol.24 (3), p.603-609
• Main Authors: Re, M., Magliulo, G., Tarchini, P., Mallardi, V., Rubini, C., Santarelli, A., Muzio, L. Lo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - chemically induced; Adenocarcinoma - genetics; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; Dust; Female; Gene Expression - physiology; Genes, bcl-2 - genetics; Genes, p53 - genetics; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Intestinal Neoplasms - chemically induced; Intestinal Neoplasms - genetics; Intestinal Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Nose Neoplasms - chemically induced; Nose Neoplasms - genetics; Nose Neoplasms - pathology; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Occupational Diseases - genetics; Occupational Diseases - pathology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Paraffin Embedding; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms - chemically induced; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms - genetics; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms - pathology; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Tissue Fixation; Wood
• ISSN: 0394-6320; 2058-7384
• DOI: 10.1177/039463201102400306

Despite their histological resemblance to colorectal adenocarcinoma, there is little information on the molecular events involved in the pathogenesis of intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma (ITACs). The aim of this paper is to evaluate the possible role of TP53 and Bcl-2 gene defects in ITAC by investigating the immunohistochemical expression of TP53 and Bcl-2 gene products in a group of ethmoidal ITACs associated with occupational exposure. A retrospective study on 15 patients with pathological diagnosis of primary ethmoidal ITAC was conducted. Representative formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded block from each case was selected for immunohistochemical studies using the antibodies against p53 and Bcl-2. Clinical-pathological data were also correlated with the staining results. The results of immunohistochemical examination demonstrated that poorly differentiated cases showed a higher percentage of p53 and Bcl-2 expressing cells in comparison to well-differentiated cases. No correlation was found with other clinico-pathological parameters, including T, stage and relapses. The relationship between up-regulation of p53 and Bcl-2 and poorly differentiated ethmoidal adenocarcinoma suggests a role of these genes, in combination with additional genetic events, in the pathogenesis of ITAC.