Expression of Bcl-2 and the antiapoptotic BAG family proteins in ovarian cancer.

In epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), literature on the prognostic value of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) is limited and inconsistent. Little is known about the expression patterns and the prognostic value of prosurvival proteins of the Bcl-2-associated athanogene (BAG) family proteins interacting with Bcl-2. The major aim of this study was to further define the expression pattern and the prognostic role of Bcl-2 together with BAG-1, BAG-3, and BAG-4 proteins in EOC patients receiving platinum/taxane-based chemotherapy.

Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor in vaginal squamous cell cancer.

Objective: Primary invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina is a rare neoplasm. Investigations concerning the potential of new therapeutic targets are limited.

Study Design: A total of 34 patients with primary invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina was identified, who were treated at our institution between 1994 and 2008.

p16INK4a expression in invasive vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.

p16, a member of the INK4a family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, is known as a negative regulator of cell cycle progression and differentiation. Although p16 has been shown to be a promising biomarker for the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, few data have been published on vulvar cancer. Using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated the expression of p16 in 80 cases of invasive vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.

The lack of laminin-5 as a prognostic marker in low-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions: correlation with clinical follow-up data.

Low-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions have a high rate of spontaneous regression but may undergo surgical treatment (cone biopsy) in case of persistence of the lesion or discrepancy between Pap-smear diagnosis and biopsy diagnosis. This may sometimes lead to surgical complications and/or adverse effects on fertility. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the potential of laminin-5 as a sensitive molecular marker identifying cervical intraepithelial neoplastic lesions (CIN), which are likely to regress and ultimately spare women unnecessary surgical procedures.