Investigation of BCL-2 and pcna in hepatocellular carcinoma : relation to chronic HCV

الملخص EN

Background and Objectives: Bcl-2 family members can be functionally divided into anti-apoptotic and proapoptotic groups.

The balance between these two groups may determine the fate of tumor cells.

In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), this balance is often tilted towards the anti-apoptotic members in tumor cells, leading to resistance to cell death and rapid proliferation.

Material and Methods : in the current study, we investigated Bcl-2 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemically, using specific monoclonal antibodies in liver tissues obtained from two patient groups.

The first group included fifty patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) without hepatocellular carcinoma ; the other group included twenty five HCV infected patients but with confirmed HCC.

Serum Bcl-2 was assayed using enzyme immunoassay Results: Results showed serum Bcl-2 was elevated in 82 % versus 100 % in HCC-free and HCC patients, respectively.

Moreover, cytoplasmic staining of Bcl-2 was found in only 16 % of chronic HCV patients without HCC, versus 8 % in HCC patients.

On the other hand, nuclear staining of PCNA was detected in 100 % of HCC patients, but in none of the HCV patients without HCC.

Conclusion : the results collectively suggest that in HCV-infected patients with and without HCC, apoptosis is deregulated and proliferation activity perturbed.

There may be prognostic and / or diagnostic potential in estimating Bcl-2 and PCNA proteins in these patient groups.