STUDY OF BCL-2 PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND THE APOPTOSIS PHENOMENON IN NEUROBLASTOMA

Background: Prognosis in neuroblastoma is based upon several clinical factors such as age, tumoral staging and other genetic factors like N- myc oncogene amplification or deletion of the short aim of chromosome 1 (del 1p). Recent reports indicate that bcl-2 protein expression is a ssociated with a poor outcome in patients with neuroblastoma. Material s and Methods: We present a study of 80 cases from the files of the Sp anish neuroblastoma study group (N-II-92) analysing bcl-2 protein expr ession by means of immunohistochemical methods and its I elation with other parameters such as histopathology: PCNA expression, N-myc amplif ication and DNA study of apoptosis. Results: We found a statistical co rrelation between bcl-2 protein expression and unfavourable histopatho logy, N-myc amplification and PCNA nuclear staining. An inverse relati on between bcl-2 staining and apoptosis was detected Conclusions: Base d on present findings it can be concluded that the determination of bc l-2 protein provides prognostic information when associated with other biological factors involved in neuroblastomas.