Immunohistochemical study of apoptosis-related Bcl-2 protein and its correlation with proliferation indices (Ki67, PCNA), tumor suppressor genes (p53, pRb), the oncogene c-erbB-2, sex steroid hormone receptors and other clinicopathological features, in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium.

The bcl-2 gene codes for a protein which functions to inhibit apoptotic cell death, that involves an intrinsic normal cell death program. Bcl-2 overexpression was originally described in a follicular lymphoma, but more recently bcl-2 expression has been observed in a variety of other human neoplasms. Variation in the frequency of apoptosis in hormone-sensitive tissues, such as the endometrium, is known to occur as a result of hormonal changes in both physiological and pathological circumstances.

Prognostic significance of the deleted in colorectal cancer gene protein expression in high-risk resected gastric carcinoma.

The deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) gene is a candidate tumor suppressor gene that may be associated with differentiation and proliferation of normal cells. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of 18q, where the gene is located, and absence of DCC protein expression have been associated with worse prognosis in certain subgroups of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma. We studied the prognostic significance of loss-of-protein expression in 66 patients with resected gastric cancer with a high probability of relapse (T3, T4, N+).

Prognostic significance of p53, bcl-2 and Ki-67 in high risk superficial bladder cancer.

Background: Although tumor grade and stage are the most accurate prognostic factors in the evaluation of transitional cell bladder cancer, they cannot always predict the true tumor biological potential since superficial tumors of the same stage and grade may have completely different clinical courses. This study was performed in order to examine whether p53, bcl-2 and Ki-67 have any validity in predicting the course of superficial bladder tumors, with high risk for recurrence or progression, over the traditional prognostic factors that are currently used. Furthermore, we investigated whether any one of these markers maintains its prognostic capability after one course of intravesical instillations of IFN gamma.

Solitary plasmacytoma of the spine in an adolescent: a case report.

Solitary plasmacytoma of bone is a rare disease in patients younger than 30 years, and only a few cases have been reported in children and adolescents. We report the findings of a destructive lesion of the spine due to solitary plasmacytoma in an adolescent patient.