Bcl-2 and LMP1 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinomas

Am J Otolaryngol. 2001 Nov-Dec;22(6):377-82. doi: 10.1053/ajot.2001.28071.

Abstract

In vitro studies of B-cells immortalized by Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) have shown that B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) protein expression is upregulated by the EBV-latency-associated antigen, latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). The same phenomenon has also been observed in epithelial cells in vitro. However, such correlation between these 2 markers has not been shown in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), in which EBV infection is a well-known etiologic factor. This retrospective study examined 35 cases of undifferentiated NPC to answer the question of whether LMP1 and/or bcl-2 presence can be used as biomarkers at treatment response, as well as to see the relationship between bcl-2 and LMP in NPC. Of the 35 patients, 26 (74.3%) were bcl-2, and 10 (28.6%) were LMP1-positive. Although a significant correlation was observed between bcl-2 and LMP1 staining (P =.003), it appeared that bcl-2 expression could be independent of LMP1. Statistical analysis showed that cervical lymph node metastasis (P =.04) and cranial nerve involvement (P =.03) are the only variables that significantly affect patient survival. At this time, bcl-2 and LMP1 presence are not significant indicators of outcome; however, although they are not directly related to survival, expression of both bcl-2 and LMP1 was strongly correlated with cervical lymph node metastasis, which is a potent predictor of patient survival.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma / genetics*
  • Carcinoma / mortality
  • Carcinoma / pathology*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Child
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, bcl-2 / genetics*
  • Genetic Markers / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • LIM Domain Proteins
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Probability
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sampling Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Survival Analysis
  • Turkey

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Genetic Markers
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • LIM Domain Proteins
  • PDLIM7 protein, human