Bcl-w expression in colorectal adenocarcinoma

We have found that the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein, Bcl-w, was freq uently expressed in colorectal adenocarcinomas, with 69/75 showing positive staining with anti-Bcl-w IgG. Adenomas demonstrated a much lower frequency of Bcl-w expression (only 1 of 17), as did adenocarcinomas from other epit helial tissues such as breast (0/8), stomach (1/12) and cervix (0/12), Bcl- w status could be related to the histopathological classification of the tu mours, with TNM stage III tumours showing significantly higher levels of ex pression than tumours of better prognostic grade (at P = 0.009). Those pati ents with node involvement also had tumours with significantly elevated lev els of Bcl-w (at P = 0.02), compared to those which were node-negative. The results suggest that Bcl-w could play a general role in the progression fr om adenoma to adenocarcinoma in the colorectal epithelium. Currently, more data are being collected to allow us to assess the importance of Bcl-w for disease progression and patient survival. (C) 2000 Cancer Research Campaign .