RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Astrocytic tumors are the primary brain tumors, which often progress to glioblastoma, a highly malignant neoplasm of the central nervous system. There is much new data regarding to the formation and progression of these tumors; however, glioblastoma remains one of the most fatal neoplasms in humans. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of c-erbB-2 protein expression in various groups of astrocytic tumors. MATERIAL/METHODS: 65 cases of astrocytic tumors were divided into 3 groups: diffuse astrocytoma (group I; n=17 cases), anaplastic astrocytoma (group II; n=23 cases) and glioblastoma (group III; n=25 cases). C-erbB-2 protein expression was estimated semiquantitatively on immunohistochemically stained tissue sections using antibodies against c-erbB-2 protein. Statistical analysis was performed in all examined groups. RESULTS: The c-erbB-2 protein expression was observed in 15 out of 17 cases (88.3%) in group I, 22 out of 25 cases (88%) cases in group II, and in 19 out of 23 cases (82.6%) in group III. There were no statistically significant differences between the examined groups. The strongest c-erbB-2 immunoexpression was observed in low grade astrocytomas (diffuse astrocytomas G2); in the glioblastoma group the c-erbB-2 protein expression was weak and 17.4% of cases were negative. CONCLUSIONS: C-erbB-2 protooncogene alteration is an early phenomenon in glial tumor development and progression.
Assuntos
Astrocitoma/metabolismo , Neoplasias Encefálicas/metabolismo , Receptor ErbB-2/metabolismo , Astrocitoma/patologia , Neoplasias Encefálicas/patologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Receptor ErbB-2/genéticaRESUMO
Apoptosis may occur via a death receptor-dependent or independent (mitochondrial) pathway. The mitochondrial pathway is regulated by small molecules, such as smac/Diablo, which activates caspase cascades. This study examined smac/DIABLO expression in 76 patients with endometrioid endometrial cancers. Presence of smac/DIABLO was quantified by Western blot analysis using nonfixed fresh frozen tissues. Its appearance was found in 55 (72%) of examined tumors. Smac/DIABLO expression significantly correlated with tumor grade (p<0.001). Patients with positive smac/DIABLO tumors had a longer disease-specific survival when compared with those with negative tumors in the 10-year follow-up (p=0.043). The study demonstrated that negative smac/DIABLO expression was a poor prognostic sign.
Assuntos
Neoplasias do Endométrio/mortalidade , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intracelular/metabolismo , Proteínas Mitocondriais/metabolismo , Idoso , Apoptose , Proteínas Reguladoras de Apoptose , Neoplasias do Endométrio/diagnóstico , Neoplasias do Endométrio/patologia , Feminino , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , PrognósticoRESUMO
The aim of the present study was to characterize the expression pattern of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and its receptors (TNF-Rs) in the epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and compare these results with the outcome of 126 patients. Presence of TNF-alpha, TNFR-1 and TNFR-2 were studied by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The proportion of samples positive for TNF-alpha and TNF-R2 was higher in epithelial ovarian cancer patients than in benign ovarian diseases (p<0.001 and p=0.016, respectively). Immunostaining intensity of TNF-R2 were correlated with tumor stage (p<0.001) and with reduced mean survival time (MST) (p=0.002). The results of the present study suggested that tissue expression of TNF-R2 in epithelial ovarian cancer was correlated with the highest risk of cancer progression. Thus, the clinical value of activated TNF system in epithelial ovarian cancer needs to be further investigated.
