대한대장항문학회

There are a lots of evidences that colorectal cancer arise as a result of multiple<br>alterations of genes. Many attempts were made to understand the role of oncogenes and<br>suppressor genes as a prognostic indicator, recently. Although histopathologic staging of<br>tumor is the most important prognostic factor up to now, it is not enough to be used<br>with full confidence. Apoptosis or programmed cell death represents a deletion of<br>damaged or natural cell mechanism. The bel-2 proto-oncogene is known as a inhibitor<br>of apoptosis that may allow accumulation and propagation of cells containing genetic<br>alterations. Overexpression of bcl-2 probably plays a role in colorectal carcinogenesis.<br>The aim of this study was to determine bcl-2 and p53 expression in<br>colorectal<br>carcinoma in correlation with apoptosis, clinical parameters, and histopathology, and to<br>test their prognostic significance in patient with colorectal carcinoma. The bel-2 and p53<br>protein were identified by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal<br>and<br>polyclonal antibody. The apoptotic index was detetermined by microscopic examination of<br>hematoxyln and rosin-stained sections at x400. The materials subiected to this study<br>were 54 paraffin-embedded colorectal carcinomas, which were collected randomly from<br>January of 1992 to December of 1994 at Department of Surgery, Chosun University<br>Hospital. Of 54 cases, 21 (38.9%) and 22(40.7%) showed positive expression of bel-2 and<br>p53 protein respectively. Mean apoptotic index(AI) was 2.99% in colorectal carcinoma.<br>Bcl-2 expression did not correlated with p53 expression or apoptotic index. Positive<br>expression of p53 or AI was not correlate with any other clinical and pathologic<br>parameters. An inverse correlation was found between bel-2 expression and increased<br>tumor stage or Iymph node metastasis (P<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest<br>that bcl-2 expression is significant associated with early stage in colorectal carcinoma.<br>But bcl-2 p53 and AI can`t be a independent prognostic factor in colorectal carcinoma.<br>Further investigations to clarity its possible role in controlling the tumor decelopment<br>and growth of colorectal carcinoma are needed.<br>