Significance of c-Myc and Bcl-2 protein expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between oncogene protein expression and nasopharyngeal carcinoma outcome.

DESIGN

Tumor samples from 51 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining for expression of Bcl-2 and c-Myc protein before irradiation. Five-year follow-up data were available.

RESULTS

Thirty-one (61%) of 51 tumors expressed Bcl-2 protein, and 29 (57%) of 51 tumors expressed c-Myc protein. In the Bcl-2+ group, 20 (65%) and 19 (61%) of 31 patients experienced recurrence or died, respectively, whereas only 7 (35%) and 5 (25%) of 20 patients with Bcl-2- tumors did so. On the other hand, patients with c-Myc+ tumors had lower recurrence and death rates (38% [11/29] and 34% [10/29], respectively) than those with c-Myc- tumors (73% [16/22] and 64% [14/22], respectively). A statistically significant association was confirmed between Bcl-2 and c-Myc positivity and patient outcome.

CONCLUSION

Expression of Bcl-2 and c-Myc protein seems to be a useful marker to reflect irradiation response and to predict illness condition and patient outcome.