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Br J Ophthalmol 2007;91:1239-1243 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.118661
  • Extended report
    • Laboratory science - Extended reports

Expression of apoptosis-related markers in malignant epithelial tumours of the lacrimal gland and their relation to clinical outcome

  1. Diego Strianese1,
  2. Gianluca Baldi2,
  3. Stefania Staibano3,
  4. Alfonso Baldi4,
  5. Gaetano De Rosa3,
  6. Fausto Tranfa1,
  7. Giulio Bonavolontà1
  1. 1
    Department of Ophthalmology – Orbital Section, University of Naples, Naples, Italy
  2. 2
    U. O. of Ophthalmology, Hospital “Umberto I” Nocera Inferiore, Salerno, Italy
  3. 3
    Department of Biomorphological and Functional Science – Pathology Section, University of Naples, Naples, Italy
  4. 4
    Department of Biochemistry – Pathology Section, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
  1. Professor D Strianese, Dipartimento di Scienze Oftalmologiche, Università degli studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Pansini, 5-80131 – Napoli, Italy; strianes{at}unina.it
  • Accepted 28 March 2007
  • Published Online First 12 April 2007

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the expression of apoptosis-related markers and prognosis in malignant epithelial tumours of the lacrimal gland.

Materials and Methods: Series of cases.

Participants: Twenty one cases with malignant epithelial tumours of the lacrimal gland. Histological diagnosis was re-examined and blocks selected were evaluated for the following parameters: incidence of apoptosis with TUNEL assay, expression of p53 and Bcl-2 using monoclonal antibody. Predictors factors for survival, local recurrence and cumulative probability of death were statistically evaluated.

Results: Re-eximination of the 21 specimens was as follow: 11 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 4 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, 3 squamous cell carcinomas and 3 adenocarcinomas. Eleven of the 21 patients (53%) died during the follow-up period (4–192 months; mean 71). Bcl-2 staining >6% was significantly correlated with the death of patients. A statistically significant positive relationship for TUNEL and p53, and an inverse correlation for Bcl-2 staining, was demonstrated with overall survival.

Conclusion: The correlation with survival of apoptotic index, p53 and Bcl-2 expression suggest the more tumour cells go in apoptosis, upregulating p53 and down-regulating Bcl-2, the better the survival of patients. This study establishes a role of apoptosis-regulatory proteins in the pathogenesis of malignant epithelial lacrimal gland tumours, and supports the hypothesis that evaluation of the expression of apoptosis-related markers in these tumours may provide a prognostic tool.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None declared.

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