EXPRESSION OF BCL-2 AND P53 PROTEIN IN B CELL LYMPHOMA OF THE WALDEYER'S RING AND ITS PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

Immunohistochemical expression of bcl-2 protein and p53 protein was evaluated in 22 patients with early stage/intermediate grade B cell lymphoma of the Waldeyer's ring. The cases in which immunohistological reactivity for bcl-2 protein and p53 protein was observed in 15% or more of examined tumor cells were regarded as positive. Thirteen of 22 patients (59%) were of positive for bcl-2 protein. p53 protein was found to be positive in 10 of 22 patients (45%). Its prognostic significance was analysed in relation to relapse-free survival (RFS) and cause-specific survival (CSS). bcl-2 positive patients showed significantly worse prognosis as compared with bcl-2 negative patients. p53 protein expression was not correlated with the prognosis. Expression of bcl-2 protein was the significant prognostic factor in multivariate analysis.