Immunohistochemical and molecular analysis of bax, bcl-2 and p53 genes in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

Background: We investigated the role of apoptosis and its potential alterations in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs) by evaluating bax, bcl-2 and p53 protein expression in 50 cases and by characterising the molecular status of the bax and p53 genes.

Material And Methods: p53 and bax gene mutations were investigated by means of PCR/SSCP and direct DNA sequencing, and bax, bcl-2 and p53 protein expression by means of immunohistochemistry.

Results: We identified p53 gene mutations in 17/50 cases (34%); p53 expression in 26 of the 50 cases (52%); bcl-2 expression in 5/50 cases (10%); bax expression in 32/47 cases (68%).