bcl-2 expression, p53 accumulation, and apoptosis in ovarian carcinomas

Abstract

Because little is known about the importance of apoptosis and its regulation in epithelial ovarian cancer, the authors looked for bcl-2 expression and p53 accumulation by immunohistochemistry in 148 ovarian carcinomas of different histologic types and stages. The number of apoptotic cells was assessed in situ by enzymatic detection of DNA fragmentation. Strong bcl-2 expression correlated with low histologic grade (P = .004) and was most often seen in endometrioid carcinomas (P = .001), whereas p53 accumulation was predominantly found in serous and undifferentiated carcinomas (P