Relationship between apoptosis regulator proteins (bcl-2 and p53) and Gleason score in prostate cancer.

Cellular proliferation programmed cell death (apoptosis) are associated with tumor growth in general, and prostate cancer growth in particular. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of the apoptosis regulating genes bcl-2 and p53 and Gleason score in core needle biopsy specimens of prostate cancer using immunohistochemistry. We studied bcl-2 and p53 expression in 12 cases of low grade (Gleason score 2-5), 12 cases of intermediate grade (Gleason score 6-7) and 8 cases of high grade (Gleason score 8-10) prostate cancer. Overexpression of bcl-2 was noted in 3 of 32 patients (9.32%). One of them was high grade; others were intermediate grades. Expression of p53 was observed in 3 of low grades; others were high grade. The statistical analysis of present data suggest that there is no significant relation between p53 and bcl-2 expression and Gleason score in prostate cancer.

Epithelial membrane antigen and S-100 protein expression in benign and malignant papillary thyroid neoplasms.

Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid is mainly diagnosed with histopathologic features. Classical papillary architectures are important but nuclear change is the essential diagnostic element. Papillary architecture may be seen in benign lesions such as in hyperplastic areas of the follicular neoplasms, multinodular goiter and Grave's disease. Differential diagnosis of papillary carcinoma and papillary hyperplasia is very important for clinical management. Some authors have reported that Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA) and S-100 protein expression would be valuable and helpful in identifying papillary neoplasia and distinguishing it from papillary hyperplasia. In this study, EMA and S-100 protein expression of 14 papillary thyroid carcinomas and 13 papillary hyperplasias were studied by using immunohistochemical methods. In 14 papillary carcinomas, 9 showed diffuse and 3 revealed focal S-100 protein nuclear and cytoplasmic immunostaining. Two cases were not stained. All of the 13 papillary hyperplasias were negative for S-100 protein. EMA expression was observed in the apical cytoplasmic location of 11 papillary carcinomas except one case that showed diffuse cytoplasmic staining and one which was negative. In the papillary hyperplasias, 7 revealed both cytoplasmic and apical cytoplasmic staining. One case showed only cytoplasmic staining. Five cases were negative for EMA. The difference in the S-100 protein expression is significant, however immunostaining of EMA is similar in both lesions. We concluded that differential diagnosis of papillary structures in carcinomas and hyperplasias was mainly diagnosed on the histopathologic features but S-100 protein expression could be helpful in difficult cases.