[Expression of bcl-2 and bax protein in uterine leiomyosarcomas and leiomyomas].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the expression and significance of the apoptosis regulatory protein bcl-2 and bax in uterine leiomyosarcomas and uterine leiomyomas.

METHODS

The expression of bcl-2 and bax were examined by immunohistochemical ABC staining with specific antibodies in 34 cases of uterine leiomyosarcomas (18 cases in stage I , 1 in stage II , 8 in stage III, and 7 in stage IV ), 34 uterine leiomyomas and 34 normal myometrium samples.

RESULTS

Bcl-2 expression was higher in uterine leiomyomas than that in normal myometrium and in uterine leiomyosarcoma (P < 0.01 ); bcl-2 expression in uterine leiomyosarcoma was higher than that in normal myometrium (P < 0.05). Bax expression in normal myometrium was higher than that in leiomyomas and in uterine leiomyosarcoma (P < 0.01). There was no obvious difference in bax expression between leiomyomas and leiomyosarcoma (P > 0.05). Both the expressions of bcl-2 and bax proteins in stage I - II were higher than those of in stage III - IV (P < 0.01). The bcl-2 positive leiomyosarcoma has a favorable clinical outcome than that of bcl-2 negative.

CONCLUSION

The imbalance between the expression of bcl-2 and bax may play a certain role in the genesis of the uterine leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas. Bcl-2 and bax may be involved in the early stage of the tumor genesis of uterine leiomyosarcoma. Bcl-2 might correlate with the prognosis of the uterine leiomyosarcoma.