Immunohistochemical Study on the Expression of Bcl-2 and p53 Protein in Gastric Adenocarcinoma

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of bcl-2 and p53 protein in the intestinal type and the diffuse type of gastric adenocarcinoma by Lauren's classification. A total of 100 cases, including 50 cases of the intestinal type and 50 cases of the diffuse type from paraffin embedded gastrectomy specimens, were immunohistochemically stained for bcl-2 and p53 protein. Bcl-2 protein was expressed in 38% (19/50) of intestinal type and 30% (15/50) of diffuse type. The incidence of bcl-2 protein expression was higher in the intestinal type than in the diffuse type, but no significant correlation was present (p>0.05). p53 protein was expressed in 68% (34/50) of the intestinal type and 60% (30/50) of the diffuse type. The incidence of p53 protein expression was higher in the intestinal type than in the diffuse type, but no significant correlation was present (p>0.05). And an expression of bcl-2 and p53 protein did not correlate with depth of invasion, lymph node meatastasis and TNM stage, respectively (p>0.05). These results suggest that bcl-2 and p53 gene alteration appear to play a more important role in the carcinogenesis of the intestinal type than the diffuse type. However, there is no significant difference between the intestinaPU The Korean Society of Pathologistsl type and the diffuse type in bcl-2 and p53 protein expression.