RESUMO
AIMS: To study the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-x, as well the presence of cleaved caspase-3 in neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x and the presence of cleaved caspase 3 were compared to clinicopathological features of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors and their impact on survival rates were also investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The evaluation of Bcl-2, Bcl-x and cleaved caspase-3 was performed by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays in 28 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors and 38 neurofibromas. Immunoquantification was performed by computerized digital image analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis is altered in neurofibromas and mainly in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. High levels of cleaved caspase-3 are more common in tumors with more aggressive histological features and it is associated with lower disease free survival of patients with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.
Assuntos
Caspase 3/metabolismo , Proteínas de Neoplasias/metabolismo , Neoplasias de Bainha Neural/metabolismo , Proteína X Associada a bcl-2/metabolismo , Proteína bcl-X/metabolismo , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias de Bainha Neural/patologia , Neurofibroma/metabolismo , Neurofibroma/patologia , Análise Serial de Tecidos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Approximately 30% of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients have undefined mutations in the dystrophin gene and it is difficult to identify single nucleotide variations in genomic DNA using current diagnostic techniques. This represents a great obstacle in genetic analysis of these patients and genetic counselling of their families. In this work we performed denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis to search for Duchenne muscular dystrophy mutations. We screened the whole dystrophin gene in 20 Brazilian Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients without a detectable deletion or duplication, and their mothers. The disease causing mutations, all of which have not been described before, were identified, and we could determine the carrier status of the mothers in all analyzed families. We concluded that denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis is very efficient in identifying small mutations and de novo mutations and in determining the carrier status of the mothers in these 30% of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed a high mutation detection rate (100%) for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and can be used as a current diagnostic procedure.