Significance of Expressions of bcl-2 and p53 Protein as the Prognostic Factor in Metastatic Prostate Adenocarcinoma

Hur, Dae Sun; Lee, Sung Wook; Kim, Khae Hwan; Cho, Young Sam; Joo, Kwan Joong; Park, Heung Jae; Kim, Myung Sook; Kwon, Chil Hun

Abstract

PURPOSE: We investigated the significance of bcl-2 and p53 protein expressions as the prognostic factor in metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Nineteen paraffin-embedded prostatic cancer tissues were examined using immunohistochemical staining for bcl-2 and p53 protein. We evaluated correlation of bcl-2 and p53 protein expressions with cancer progression free interval, pretreatment PSA and Gleason score.
RESULTS
Seven out of 19 cases (36.9%) were positive for p53 and 3 cases (15.8%) were positive for bcl-2 protein. Mean disease progression free interval in positive patients for bcl-2 and p53 protein expressions was 8.7 months and 10.3 months, respectively. However, it was 18.3 months and 21 months in negative expressions, respectively. The difference of mean disease progression free interval between positive and negative groups for p53 protein expression was statistically significant (p<0.05) but not in bcl-2 protein groups. The rates of positive staining for bcl-2 and p53 protein were 0% (0/8) and 37.5% (3/8), respectively, in Geason score 5-7 groups, 27.3% (3/11) and 36.4% (4/11) in 8-10 groups. Neither of proteins had significant correlation with Gleason score and pretreatment PSA.
CONCLUSIONS
The expression of p53 protein was correlated with significant short disease progression free interval but bcl-2 overexpression had relative short disease progression interval without statistical significance. These results suggest that expressions of bcl-2 and p53 have considerable prognostic impact and these gene products would provide useful information about prognosis of metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma.