Expression of the apoptosis suppressing bcl‐2 protein in transitional cell bladder tumours

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Abstract
The expression of bcl‐2 protein was studied by immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody in 158 cases of transitional cell bladder tumours. The bcl‐2 protein was expressed in basal cells in normal transitional epithelium and 68% of the transitional cell tumours showed bcl‐2 positivity in the basal cells. The expression of bcl‐2 in basal cells was positively correlated to over‐expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in tumour cells. The expression of bcl‐2 in non‐basal cells was weak in 20% and strong in an additional 13% of tumours. The expression of bcl‐2 in non‐basal cells was positively correlated to T‐category, M‐category, grade, papillary status, DNA ploidy, S phase fraction, mitotic index, nuclear area and over‐expression of epidermal growth factor receptor. Recurrence‐free interval of Ta‐T1 tumours was related to bcl‐2 positivity in non‐basal cells. Tumours with bcl‐2 positive non‐basal cells had an unfavourable prognosis but, in multivariate analysis, expression of bcl‐2 had no independent prognostic value.

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