Bcl-2 and Bax Expression and Ki-67 Proliferative Index in Astrocytic Tumors: in Relation to Prognosis

OBJECTIVE: We report a retrospective investigation of the prognostic value of bcl-2 and bax expression, and Ki-67 proliferative index in 42 astrocytic tumors. METHODS: We classified the astrocytic tumors and reviewed the clinical information and survival time. The sections were taken from surgically resected paraffin-embedded tissue and performed immunohistochemical stains for bcl-2, bax and Ki-67. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical stain for bcl-2 revealed a positivity in only two(4.76%) among forty-two cases. The immunostain for bax was positive in 35 cases(83.3%). However, the correlation between bcl-2 & bax expression and age, sex, tumor location, size, and histologic grade was not found. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, bcl-2 & bax expression and survival time in astrocytic tumors was no significance in log rank test(p>0.05). There were prognostic values between Ki-67 LI and histologic grade and between Ki-67 LI and survival time, respectively(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Bcl-2 and bax are not significant, whereas Ki-67 LI is suggested as a significant prognostic factor, associated with histologic grade and survival time of astrocytic tumors.

Localization of Intracellular IVIonoclonal Antibody Specific for IVlycobacteria in Experimentally Induced Pulmonary Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: To determine whether intracellular localization of intravenously injected infection specific MoAb can be localized in the infected cells, immunohistochemical staining was obtained in animals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One mg of intact mouse MoAb against mwobacteria (group I, n=10) and F(ab')2 (group II, n=6) were intravenously injected to the rabbits of each groups infected with M. tuberculosis H37RV. Immunohistochemical staining using an anti-mouse antibody was obtained at the 1,3, 5, 7 and 8th days in Group I and at the 1, 2, 3rd days in group II by streptavidin biotin method. For the control study, I mg of non specific polyclonal human IgG (group III, n=10) and 100 microgram of normal rabbit IgG F(ab')2 (group IV, n=6) were injected to the rabbits and guinea pigs respectively. RESULTS: Both groups (group I & II) showed a positive Ag-Ab reaction within the cytoplasm of monocytes. A weak but positive reaction was observed intracellularly in group III, however no positive reaction in group IV. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest intracellular Ag-Ab reaction plays an important role in the localization of infection by immunoscintigraphy using a specific MoAb fragments.