ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate of the role in carcinogenesis of p53 over-expression and bcl-2 inhibition in early gastric and advanced gastric cancers, we investigated the immunohistochemical tissue status of 31 primary early gastric-cancer patients and 31 primary advanced gastric-cancer patients. METHODS: DO7, the monoclonal antiserum to the P53 protein, and clone 124, the monoclonal antibody to the bcl-2 protein, were used for the immunohistochemical analysis of the 31 surgically resected primary early gastric cancer specimens and the 31 surgically resected advanced gastric-cancer specimens. The expressions were scored and divided into negative, positive, low expression, and overexpression. RESULTS: The clinicopathologic parameter; tumor depth of invasion, histologic type, and differentiation, were not related with the expression status of p53 or bcl-2. Of the 31 primary early gastric-cancer patients, 14 exhibited p53 overexpression and 16 showed negative the bcl-2 expression; 5 cases had both p53 overexpression and negative bcl-2 expression. Of the 31 advanced gastric cancer patients, 19 showed the p53 overexpression, and negative bcl-2 expression, 15 exhibited both p53 overexpression and negative bcl-2 expression. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that cell cycle alteration and apoptosis control by p53 and bcl-2 may play roles in the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer. However, there are many other mediators that may facilitate carcinogenesis. This study proved that bcl-2 is a valuable prognostic factor.