Apoptosis and immunohistochemicalbcl-2 expression in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas: Aspects of carcinogenesis and prognostic significance

Abstract

Our data indicate that bcl-2 expression is characteristic of the early phase of colorectal carcinogenesis. Its physiologic function as an inhibitor of PCD is preserved in most colorectal carcinomas, whereas p53 is apparently not involved in the regulation of PCD in colorectal neoplasias. bcl-2 expression in colorectal carcinomas is associated with a better clinical course. This correlation became even more evident in the subgroups of patients with carcinomas that also had low PCD index or lacked p53 immunoreactivity.