EXPRESSION OF BCL-2 ONCOPROTEIN IN TRANSITIONAL-CELL CARCINOMA OF THEUPPER URINARY-TRACT

We investigated the immunoreactivity for bcl-2 oncoprotein in 154 case s of transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (TCC-UUT) and its relation with the immunoreactivity for p53 oncoprotein and pro liferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity. Immunohistoch emically, bcl-2 oncoprotein was recognized as positive in 29.2% of the samples. The immunoreactivity for bcl-2 oncoprotein was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated only with stage, though there was a borderline correlation (P = 0.050) with PCNA immunoreactivity. Furthermore, in in vasive TCC the immunoreactivity for bcl-2 oncoprotein was associated w ith PCNA immunoreactivity (P < 0.041). The 5-year disease-free and ove rall survival rates were 55.7% and 71.5%, respectively. A univariate a nalysis of survival revealed that stage, grade, pattern of growth, imm unoreactivity for p53 oncoprotein, and PCNA immunoreactivity each had a significant effect on disease-free and overall survival rates, where as the immunoreactivity for bcl-2 oncoprotein had no significant effec t on either rate. In the final models of the multivariate analysis, st age was found to be the only prognostic factor for disease-free surviv al and for overall survival. Detection of immunoreactivity for bcl-2 o ncoprotein appears to be of no real value in deciding the prognosis of TCC-UUT.