Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 expression in glioblastoma: an immunohistochemical study

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Vol. 68; no. 4; pp. 603 - 607
• Main Authors: Tirapelli, Luís Fernando, Bolini, Paulo Henrique Nasser Andre, Tirapelli, Daniela Pretti da Cunha, Peria, Fernanda Maris, Becker, Aline Nazareth Paixão, Saggioro, Fabiano Pinto, Carlotti, Jr, Carlos Gilberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 01.08.2010
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Brain Neoplasms - metabolism; Caspase 3 - metabolism; Female; Glioblastoma - metabolism; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; NEUROSCIENCES; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; PSYCHIATRY; apoptosis; glioblastoma; apoptose; immunohistochemistry; imunohistoquímica
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0004-282X2010000400023

The unfavorable prognosis of malignant gliomas can also be explained by the incomplete knowledge of their molecular pathways. Studies regarding the regulatory process of apoptosis in glioblastoma (GBM), the most common malignant glioma, are few, and better knowledge of the expression of pro and anti-apoptotic proteins could collaborate with the development of new treatments founded on molecular basis. The objective of this study was to evaluate by immunohistochemistry the expression of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in 30 samples of GBMs. The expression of caspase-3 (mean 17.67%) was lower than Bcl-2 (mean 30.92%), a statistically significant result (p<0.0001), suggesting low apoptotic activity in these tumors. Other studies of proteins related to the intrinsic and extrinsic pathway of apoptosis are required to provide additional information of this mechanism in GBMs.