Expression of p53 and Bcl-2 proteins in epithelial ovarian carcinoma with different grade of differentiation

Expression of p53 and Bcl-2 as well as nuclear antigen of proliferating cel ls (NAPC) detected with the IPO-38 MoAb was studied in serous epithelial ov arian tumors of different: grade of differentiation (32 patients in total). Overexpression of the mutant p53 and NAPC was shown to be typical of poorl y differentiated malignant ovarian tumors with high aggressiveness and vast dissemination (FIGO stage IIIc and IV). Well-differentiated tumors, accord ing to our data, were characterized by the absence of the mutant p53 expres sion, the low proliferation index and the high Bcl-2 levels. These data sug gest that die detection of p53 and Bcl-2 expression as well as expression o f the NAPC in ovarian tumors could be useful for prognosis and therapy corr ection.