Expression of bcl-2, Ki-67 and p-53 in uveal melanomas

• Published in: Acta medica Croatica Vol. 62; no. 3; pp. 267 - 271
• Main Authors: Krvavica, Ana, Talan-Hranilović, Jasna, Belicza, Mladen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Croatian
• Published: Croatia 01.07.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Female; Humans; Ki-67 Antigen - metabolism; Male; Melanoma - metabolism; Melanoma - pathology; Middle Aged; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism; Uveal Neoplasms - metabolism; Uveal Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 1330-0164

To investigate expression of proliferative markers bcl-2, Ki-67 and p-53 immunocomplexes in uveal melanoma cells; and to establish whether the intensity of expression correlates with the pathological level of invasion (pT), which would result in prognostic significance. Thirty cases of primary uveal melanomas of two different levels of invasion (pT2 and pT3); indirect PAP immunoenzyme method and three step ABC/AP method. The intensity of the reaction was evaluated by a semiquantitative method as negative (-), weakly positive (+), modestly positive (++) and strongly positive (+++). Results were statistically analyzed by Fisher exact test for small examples. The reactivity of Ki-67 and p-53 protein was markedly stronger than bcl-2 in pT2 and pT3 stages. p-53 protein expression showed similar distribution for Ki-67 protein according to pT stages. The reactivity of all three markers was stronger in pT3 stage, especially of proliferation markers Ki-67 and p-53. In addition to the fact that they both are reliable indicators of the metastatic potential, Ki-67 is a better marker because there is a well established technique for measuring cell proliferation in all phases of the cell cycle.