AN IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF P53 AND BCL-2 PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN HODGKINS-DISEASE

In view of their reported reciprocal effects on apoptosis, the express ion of p53 and bcl-2 proteins was studied in 46 cases of Hodgkin's dis ease by immunocytochemical labeling. We found p53 protein in Reed-Ster nberg cells and their mononuclear variants in 16 of the 46 cases (34.7 %) of Hodgkin's disease, mainly in a nuclear pattern. This restricted expression on Reed-Sternberg cells and variants supports their neoplas tic nature. This overexpression of p53 protein in one third of Hodgkin 's disease cases is similar to that seen in many other human malignanc ies. bcl-2 protein was present in mantle zone B cells and scattered T cells in all cases, and in 17 cases (37.7%) of Hodgkin's disease in Re ed-Sternberg cells and their mononuclear variants. Six cases coexpress ed both proteins, whereas in 18 cases neither was identified. There is no apparent relationship between p53 and bcl-2 protein expression, an d on the basis of the present results there is no reason to suppose th at they have any particular complementary effects on the neoplastic tr ansformation in Hodgkin's disease.