Bcl-2 and LMP1 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinomas

• DOI: 10.1053/ajot.2001.28071
• Publication Date: 2002-08-25T03:46:10Z
• Authors: Sarp Sarac; M.Umut Akyol; Bilge Kanbur; Aylar Poyraz; Gülen Akyol; Taner Yilmaz; Arzu Sungur
• Keywords: Adult; Genetic Markers; Male; Adolescent; Carcinoma; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Gene Expression; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; LIM Domain Proteins; Middle Aged; Immunohistochemistry; Genes, bcl-2; 3. Good health; Cytoskeletal Proteins; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Female; Carrier Proteins; Child; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Aged; Neoplasm Staging

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.