EXPRESSION OF BCL-2 AND P53 IN MERKEL CELL-CARCINOMA - AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Bcl-2 is a protooncogene thought to play a role in oncogenesis by inhi biting programmed cell death. It may interact with p53, a tumor-suppre ssor gene which induces apoptosis in certain circumstances. We have st udied these gene products by immunohistochemistry in 15 cases of Merke l cell carcinoma, a tumor characterised by prominent apoptosis. Five c ases showed moderate/strong staining for p53, with moderate/strong bcl -2 staining in 10 patients. In seven cases abundance of p53 and bcl-2 expression was mutually exclusive. Two patients died within 1 year of diagnosis and six had nodal recurrences. Gene expression and survival appear unrelated. The role of Bcl-2 and p53 in tumorigenesis is compli cated and may be inter-related with other genes known to be involved i n programmed cell death.