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 associated with a poor outcome in patients with neuroblastoma. Materials and Methods: We present a study of 80 cases from the files of the Spanish neuroblastoma study group (N-II-92) analysing bcl-2 protein expression by means of immunohistochemical methods and its I elation with other parameters such as histopathology: PCNA expression, N-myc amplification and DNA study of apoptosis. Results: We found a statistical correlation between bcl-2 protein expression and unfavourable histopathology, N-myc amplification and PCNA nuclear staining. An inverse relation between bcl-2 staining and apoptosis was detected Conclusions: Based on present findings it can be concluded that the determination of bcl-2 protein provides prognostic information when associated with other biological factors involved in neuroblastomas.