Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Original Articles

Heat Shock Protein 70 and p53 Protein Expression in Colorectal Adenomas and Carcinomas.: Tae Jung Jang, Jung Ran Kim, Kung Bae Lee; Korean J Pathol. 1997;31(3):201-210.

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Abstract PDF: Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is a chaperone that binds to mutant p53 and consequently can regulate its accumulation or localization. Its expression is upregulated in tumor cells. We studied 44 adenomas and 29 carcinomas of colorectum to evaluate the expression of HSP70, and to assess the correlation among p53 protein and other clinical prognostic parameters. HSP70 expression was scored according to staining intensity and extent. p53 protein expression was 45.5%(20/44) in adenomas and 79.3%(23/29) in carcinomas(P<0.01). p53 protein expression of carcinomas was 57.1%(4/7) in diploidy tumors, 100.0%(8/8) in aneuploidy tumors(P=0.07), 100.0%(8/8) in well-differentiated tumors, and 50.0%(2/4) in poorly differentiated tumors(P= 0.09). HSP70 expression mainly revealed a fine granular cytoplasmic staining pattern in tumor cells. HSP70 was focally detected in some lymphocyte, ganglion cell and normal mucosa. HSP70 expression was 46.3%(19/41) in adenomas and 93.1%(27/29) in carcinomas. HSP70 score was 0.9+/-1.3 in adenomas(n=41) and 5.5+/-3.5 in carcinomas(n=29)(P<0.0005). Its score was 1.7+/-1.6 in p53 positive adenomas and 0.3+/-0.6 in p53 negative adenomas(P<0.005), and its expression rate was higher in p53 positive carcinomas than p53 negative carcinomas (P>0.05). There was no significant correlation among HSP70, tumor size, Dukes'stage, nodal metastasis, depth of tumor invasion, DNA ploidy and tumor differentiation. In conclusion, HSP70 and p53 protein appear to be correlated to each other, and that HSP70 and p53 protein may play a certain role in the progression of colorectal tumor. Further studies are needed for determining their prognostic factors in colorectal carcinoma.

Genetic Expression Pattern of Gastric Carcinomas According to Cellular Mucin Phenotypes.: Won Ae Lee, In Soo Suh, Ying Hua Li, Ji Hyun Eum, Wan Sik Yu, Han Ik Bae; Korean J Pathol. 2007;41(5):307-315.

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Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
Gastric carcinomas (GCs) have recently been reclassified according to the mucin phenotypes. We aimed to characterize the relationship between the mucin phenotypes and the genetic alterations or the clinicopathologic parameters of GCs.
METHODS
Immunohistochemistry was performed for MUC1, MUC5AC, MUC6, MUC2, CD10, p53, hMLH1, CerbB2 and E-cadherin in 150 GCs. The mucin phenotypes of the GCs were classified as 4 phenotypes: gastric, intestinal, mixed and unclassified.
RESULTS
MUC1, MUC5AC, MUC6, MUC2 and CD10 were expressed in 63.3%, 42.7%, 14.0%, 24.7% and 14.0% of the GCs, respectively. The mucin phenotypes of the GCs corresponded to the gastric type in 31.3%, the intestinal type in 20.0%, the mixed type in 15.3% and the unclassified type in 33.3%. The incidence of a p53 overexpression was higher in the gastric or mixed phenotype than in the intestinal or unclassified phenotype. MUC5AC expression, p53 overexpression and the gastric or mixed phenotype were associated with poor patient survival by multivariate analysis.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests the gastric or mixed mucin phenotype may more likely go through the p53 pathway in carcinogenesis and the mucin phenotype may be considered as a prognostic indicator.

Overexpression of p53 Protein in Endometrial Hyperplasia and Adenocarcinoma.: Yun Sin Kim, Mi Sook Lee, Sung Chul Lim, Jang Shin Sohn, Chae Hong Suh; Korean J Pathol. 1997;31(7):655-661.

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Abstract PDF: Proliferations of the endometrial glands form a continuum from focal glandular crowding through simple hyperplasia, complex hyperplasia and atypical hyperplasia to frank adenocarcinoma. But objective criteria to distinguish these proliferative endometrial lesions are not clear-cut and terminology is confusing. The p53 protein is a nuclear phosphoprotein that can regulate cell proliferation and suppress tumor growth. Mutation in the p53 gene have been reported in a variety of human tumors, and in selected malignancies overexpression of p53 has been associated with poor prognosis. In this study we examined a series of endometrial proliferative lesion, including hyperplasia, adenocarcinoma, and adenomyosis to determine whether or not p53 is overexpressed in these lesions. In the result, p53 immunoreactivity was observed in 3 of 17 (17.6%) simple hyperplasia, one of 6 (16.6%) complex hyperplasia, none of 3 (O%) atypical hyperplasia, 6 of 13 (46.1%) adenocarcinoma and none of 10 (O%) adenomyosis. In conclusion, p53 mutation seems to play a role in oncogenesis of endometrial adenocarcinoma in early phase but there was no significant relationship between p53 overexpression and histologic grade of adenocarcinoma.

Expression of Epstein-Barr Virus Gene Products, Bcl-2 and p53 Proteins in Nasopharyngeal Carcinomas.: Sun Hee Yoon, Kang Suek Suh, Chang Hun Lee; Korean J Pathol. 1997;31(8):723-734.

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Abstract PDF: The authors studied EBV genome expression in 40 conventionally processed samples of nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC), using in situ hybridization for EBERs and immunohistochemistry for LMP, Bcl-2 and p53 proteins. The NPCs consisted of 6 keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas (KSCs), 13 nonkeratinizing carcinomas (NKCs) and 21 undifferentiated carcinomas (UCs). The results were summarized as follows: 1) EBERs were expressed in 80.0% of all the NPCs (32/40). As for the subtypes, they were detected in 92.3% of NKCs (12/13), in 90.5% of the UCs (19/21), and in 16.7% of the KSCs (1/6). In positive cases, the nuclei of tumor cells displayed uniformly strong staining. 2) LMP was expressed in 10.0% of all the NPCs (4/40), all of which were UC. The LMP expression in the UCs was not correlated to the expression of EBERs, Bcl-2 and p53 proteins. 3) Bcl-2 protein was detected in 85.0% of all the NPCs (34/40). As for the subtypes, they were detected in 92.3% of the NKCs (12/13), in 90.5% of the UCs (19/21), and in 50.0% of the KSCs (3/6). 4) p53 protein was detected in 75.0% of all the NPCs (30/40). As for the subtypes, they were detected in 81.0% of the UCs (17/21), in 69.2% of the NKCs (9/13), and in 66.7% of the KSCs (4/6). 5) In the NPCs the expression of EBER showed a significantly positive correlation with that of p53 or Bcl-2 protein. The above results indicate that the association of EBV with NPC is chiefly with poorly differentiated and undifferentiated carcinomas. Additionally, carcinomas commonly display widespread, strong immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 and p53 proteins over tumor cells. In conclusion, these observations indicate that the EBV-association in NPC appears to contribute to the overexpression of tumor-related genes during carcinogenesis.

p53 Protein Expression in Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast.: Soon Hee Jung, Mee Yon Cho, Soo Yong Kim; Korean J Pathol. 1996;30(1):7-14.

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Abstract PDF: Overexpression of the nuclear phosphoprotein p53 is the most common genetic anomaly found in primary human cancer and mutation of the tumor suppressor gene p53 has been identified in breast cancer cell lines. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic significance of p53 protein expression in patients with mammary infiltrating ductal carcinoma and its correlation with histopathologic grade, lymph node status, tumor size, p53 protein expression and survival. Among 53 cases, p53 protein expression was detected in 26(49.1%) cases by immunohistochemistry. There was no correlation between p53 protein overexpression and histopathologic grade(p=0.09) or lymph node status(p=0.38) and between survival and histopathologic grade (p=0.68) or lymph node status(p=0.52). However, p53 protein expression was significantly correlated with survival(p=0.01) and patients with p53 protein-positive tumors showed poorer survival times. But Cox multivariate analysis showed the lymph node status is significant(p=0.01). The authors conclude that the presence of mutant p53 protein and lymph node status may serve a prognostic role, in a subset of mammary infiltrating ductal carcinoma cases.

Expression of Survivin in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma: Relationship to Tumor Biology and Prognosis in Surgically Treated Patients.: Min Jung Jung, Bong Kwon Chun; Korean J Pathol. 2005;39(3):151-157.

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Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
Survivin, a novel member of inhibitor-of-apoptosis, is undetectable in most terminally differentiated nonproliferative adult tissue, but is overexpressed in some human malignancies. The survivin gene expression is repressed by binding of wild-type p53 with the survivin promotor. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of survivin expression, its association with p53 overexpression and proliferative index, and clinicopathological significance in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC).
METHODS
Immunohistochemical stainings were performed in 59 cases of primary NSCLC for survivin, p53 and Ki-67. Correlations between the survivin expression, p53 overexpression and Ki-67 labeling index were analyzed.
RESULTS
Survivin expression was detected in 47 carcinomas (80%) with nuclear immunoreactivity (56%). Survivin nuclear immunoreactivity revealed significantly worse prognosis in NSCLC patients (p=0.003), and correlated with lymph node metastasis (p=0.014), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.032), p53 overexpression, and Ki-67 labeling index (KI 24.2 +/- 6.9, p=0.045). Survivin expression was not correlated with histological type and pT status.
CONCLUSIONS
High incidence of survivin overexpression in NSCLC suggests that survivin is involved in lung carcinogenesis, and nuclear expression of survivin can be used as a poor prognostic predictor in NSCLC patients. Expression of mutant p53 seems to be a possible mechanism of survivin up-regulation in NSCLC.

Expression of Claudin-1, p53 and E-cadherin in Pseudoepitheliomatous Hyperplasia and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.: Keum Ha Choi, Jae Hong Lim, Ju Hyung Lee, Keun Sang Kwon, Ho Lee, Ho Sung Park, Myoung Ja Chung, Woo Sung Moon, Jae Soon Eun, Dong Geun Lee, Kyu Yun Jang; Korean J Pathol. 2008;42(5):287-293.

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Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
Pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia (PEH) is a reactive proliferation of surface epithelium and can be confused with invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in head and neck biopsy specimens. To distinguish PEH from invasive SCC, immunohistochemical staining for claudin-1, E-cadherin and p53 was performed. METHODS: Eighteen cases of PEH and 29 invasive SCC from head and neck lesions were immunostained and examined. RESULTS: The invasive SCC showed increased staining of claudin-1 (p<0.001) and p53 (p<0.001) and decreased staining of E-cadherin (p=0.005) compared to the PEH specimens. The combined score calculated by adding the positive sum of claudin-1 and p53 and subtracting E-cadherin was useful for the differentiation of SCC from PEH (89.7% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The combined immunostaining for claudin-1, p53 and E-cadherin may help differentiate PEH from invasive SCC. The results of this study suggest that the increased expression of claudin-1 and p53 and the decreased expression of E-cadherin maybe markers for the aggressive growth of invasive SCC.

p 53 Protein Expression in Imprint Cytology of Breast Carcinoma.: Dong Sug Kim, Eun Hi Lee, Ki Kwon Kim, Mi Jin Kim, Soo Jung Lee; J Pathol Transl Med. 1995;6(1):1-9.

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Abstract PDF: This study was carried out to determine the usefulness of imprint cytology for detecting p 53 protein in breast carcinoma. NCL-DO7(Novocastra, U.K.) was used to detect p53 protein immunocytochemically. A total of 33 cases was studied. Immunostaining of imprint cytology with NCL-DO7 was positive in 64%(21\33) and showed relatively high coincident rate (80 %) with immunostaining of formalin-fixed, paraffin - embedded specimen. p 53 protein was related to negative estrogen receptor status, but not to the nuclear grade, lymph node metastasis, or tumor size. The fact that p53 protein expression was not related to nuclear grade might be due to predominance of nuclear grade 3. It was easier to determine the nuclear grade is one of the most important prognostic factors, in imprint cytology than in tissue specimen. p53 protein tended to be stained more strongly in imprint cytology than in tissue.

Expression of p53 and MDM2 Proteins in Thyroid Carcinomas.: Chang Hun Lee; Korean J Pathol. 1998;32(4):255-260.

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Abstract PDF: The nuclear protein p53 is a tumor suppressor gene product that functions in pathways of cell cycle control and in the repair of damaged DNA. The MDM2 gene codes for a cellular protein that can complex the p53 gene product and negatively regulate its function. Interestingly an autoregulatory feedback loop is set up to regulate the activity of p53 protein and MDM2 gene expression. To evaluate the role of p53 and MDM2 proteins in thyroid carcinogenesis, the author tried immunohistochemical studies in the paraffin embedded sections of 58 thyroid carcinoma cases, including 30 papillary carcinomas, 20 follicular carcinomas, and 8 undifferentiated carcinomas. p53 protein expression was found in 8 cases (26.7%) of papillary carcinomas. It was found in all the cases of undifferentiated carcinomas and not found in the follicular carcinomas. The staining intensity and the frequency scores were more prominent in undifferentiated carcinomas. MDM2 protein expression was found in only 6 cases of papillary carcinomas. It was not expressed in follicular carcinomas or undifferentiated carcinomas. The staining intensity is less than moderate and the frequency score was usually focal. In papillary carcinomas, the correlation of p53 and MDM2 expression was insignificant. In conclusion, p53 may play a major role in tumorigenesis or the progression of undifferentiated carcinomas, but not in the other carcinomas. As compared with papillary carcinomas, follicular carcinomas are regarded as taking a different carcinogenetic pathway. The overexpression of p53 and MDM2 proteins in papillary carcinomas is presumed not to be necessarily correlated with the p53-MDM2 complex formation.

Diagnostic Value of p53 Expression in the Evaluation of Effusions.: Jin Shin Lee, Chang Soo Park; J Pathol Transl Med. 1996;7(2):138-143.

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Abstract PDF: The diagnostic accuracy of routine cytological preparations from effusions ranges from 60% to 70%. Immunohistochemical markers, especially tumor-associated antigens, have been successfully employed to increase diagnostic sensitivity in effusion cytology. However, more than two different antibodies in diagnosis of effusions are needed. In the view of prevalence of abnormalities of p53 gene in human malignancies, we investigated the diagnostic usefulness of demonstration of p53 protein immunoreactivity in distinguishing benign changes versus malignant processes in effusions. p53 protein expression was studied immunohistochemically in 76 effusions(28 malignant and 48 benign) using anti-human p53 antibody. p53 immunoreactivity was identified in 19 of 28(67.9%) malignant effusions. In contrast, no p53 immunoreactivity was!, observed in all benign effusions. A specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 67.9% Were observed. These results suggest that immunohistochemical detection of p53 protein seems to be helpful in distinguishing benign changes versus malignant processes in effusions, although its principal limitation is-its relatively low sensitivity.

Correlation between Expression of p53 and Bcl-2 Protein and Epstein-Barr Virus Detection in Gastric Adenocarcinoma.: Ki Jung Yun, Weon Cheol Han, Hyung Bae Moon, Sang Woo Juhng; Korean J Pathol. 1998;32(8):574-580.

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Abstract: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been known to be associated with a wide variety of neoplastic conditions including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Recent studies reveal the presence of EBV in certain subtypes of gastric carcinoma in which EBV appears to be pathogenetically related. To evaluate the relationship between EBV and gastric adenocarcinoma, we examined EBV DNA using direct in situ polymerase chain reaction, and expression of p53 protein and bcl-2 protein using immunohistochemical staining method on paraffin embedded tissues. The materials consisted of one hundred twenty-eight gastric adenocarcinomas and twenty benign peptic ulcers. EBV DNA was detected in 14 of 128 gastric adenocarcinomas (10.9%). p53 protein was positive in 10 of 14 EBV positive adenocarcinomas (71.4%) and in 61 of 114 EBV negative adenocarcinomas (53.5%). Bcl-2 protein was positive in 2 of 14 EBV positive adenocarcinomas (14.3%) and in 19 of 114 EBV negative adenocarcinomas (16.7%). The above results indicate that EBV is associated with gastric adenocarcinoma, and p53 protein may play a role in carcinogenesis of EBV in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, c-erbB2, and p53 Protein Overexpression and Prognosis in Gastric Adenocarcinoma.: Ayoung Park, So Young Jin, Dong Won Kim, Dong Wha Lee; Korean J Pathol. 2000;34(8):559-566.

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Abstract PDF: Despite its fall in incidence, gastric adenocarcinoma remains a common disease with dismal prognosis worldwide. A better understanding of its tumorigenesis and biologic properties of tumor cells related to invasion and metastasis is crucial to improving diagnosis and treatment. Conflicting results concerning the relationships between overexpression of PAI-1, c-erbB2, and p53 protein and biologic behavior of gastric carcinoma have been noted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of overexpression of PAI-1, c-erbB2, and p53 protein as prognostic factors in gastric adenocarcinoma. Overexpression of PAI-1, c-erbB2, and p53 protein by immunohistochemistry was correlated with variable clinicopathological parameters and patients' survival in 80 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma. Overall PAI-1 expression rate was 63.7% (51/80) and higher in advanced cancer (p=0.0003) and nodal metastasis (p=0.003) groups. Overall c-erbB2 expression rate was 43.8% (35/80) and higher in antral (p=0.03), differentiated (p=0.001), intestinal (p=0.0007), and expanding (0.03) groups. The p53 protein overexpression was 37.5% (30/80) and higher in early cancer (p=0.02), differentiated (p=0.006) and intestinal groups (p=0.009). Patients with PAI-1, c-erbB2, and p53 protein positive tumors tended to have poorer survival rates than patients with PAI-1, c-erbB2, and p53 protein negative tumors, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.25, 0.37, 0.52). Our data indicated that PAI-1 overexpression is one of the poor prognostic factors in gastric adenocarcinoma and c-erbB2 and p53 protein seem to be involved in the early stage of carcinogenesis of intestinal type-gastric adenocarcinoma.

Immunohistochemical Expression of p53 Protein, Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor in Soft Tissue Leiomyosarcoma and Its Significance.: Byung Heon Kim; Korean J Pathol. 1998;32(11):1015-1024.

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Abstract: This study was carried out to evaluate the expressions of the p53 protein, the estrogen receptor (ER) and the progesterone receptor (PR), as well as the relationship between their expressions and clinicopathologic prognostic factors with storage duration of a paraffin block, and correlation between the p53 protein, the ER and the PR expressions in 29 cases of leiomyosarcoma of soft tissue. The expressions of the p53 protein, the ER and the PR were semiquantiatively analyzed in paraffin sections by the immunohistochemical method out of 29 cases the p53 protein, ER and PR were expressed in 9 (31.0%), 2 (6.9%) and 5 (17.2%), respectively. The expression of the p53 protein was not significantly associated with sex, age, anatomic site, tumor size, tumor depth, histological differentiation or mitotic rate (p>0.05), but statistically correlated to storage duration of a paraffin block (p=0.028). There was no significant relationship between the expression of the ER and all the clinocopathological prognostic factors with storage duration of a paraffin block (p>0.05). The expression of the PR was related to the histological differentiation (p=0.02), but not related to other clinicopathological prognostic parameters and storage duration of a paraffin block (p>0.05). The expression of the p53 protein and the PR had a significant relationship (p=0.022), but the expression of the p53 protein and the ER had no significant correlation. In conclusion, these results suggest that the expression of the p53 protein and the PR may play a role in development and growth of soft tissue leiomyosarcoma. Further studies of large numbers are needed to clarify the exact relationship between tumorigenesis and the p53 and the PR expressions in leiomyosarcoma of soft tissue.

Microvessel Quantification, Expression of p53 Protein and MIB-1 in Colorectal Adenoma and Carcinoma.: Tae Jung Jang, Jung Ran Kim, Han Ik Bae; Korean J Pathol. 1997;31(1):40-50.

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Abstract PDF: Angiogenesis is a crucial step in tumor growth and progression. Scarce data is available on angiogensis in gastrointestinal tumors. We studied 16 normal colon, 44 adenomas and 29 carcinomas to evaluate angiogenesis in colorectal tumors and to assess the correlation among p53 protein, proliferative activity and other clinical prognostic parameters. Endothelial cells were immunostained with an anti-Factor VIII mAb; in each case three microscopic fields(x 200) were counted: average number of the three fields was defined as microvessel density (MVD). p53 protein expression was 45.5%(20/44) in adenomas, and 79.3%(23/29) in carcinomas (p<0.01). p53 protein expression of carcinomas was 57.1%(4/7) in diploid tumors, 100%(8/8) in aneuploid tumors (p=0.07), 100%(8/8) in well differentiated tumors, and 50%(2/4) in poorly differentiated tumors (p=0.09). MIB-1 score was 2.3+/-0.7(38) in adenomas, 3.4+/-0.5(29) in carcinomas (p<0.01). There was no significant correlation between p53 protein and MIB-1 score. MVD was 10.4+/-4.1(16) in the normal mucosa, 21.5+/-7.9(39) in the adenomas, 35.3+/-9.7(26) in carcinomas (normal versus adenomas, p<0.01; adenomas versus carcinomas, p<0.01). MVD was 25.8+/-5.4(2) in carcinomas confined to mucosa, and 36.1+/-9.6(24) in carcinomas with transmural invasion. The higher MIB-1 score was in carcinomas the more MVD increased but there was no statistical significance (r=0.38, p=0.055). MVD of carcinomas was not associated with nodal metastasis, p53 expression, and DNA ploidy. p53 protein and MIB-1 expression are useful methods for the evaluation of malignancy, and tumor angiogenesis is an early event in a colorectal tumor but MVD does not correlate with prognostic parameters except for the tumor depth.

The Relationship of Ki-67, Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen, AgNORs and p53 Protein Expression in Astrocytoma.: Dong Ja Kim, Jae Weon Lim, Yoon Kyung Sohn; Korean J Pathol. 1999;33(1):25-31.

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Abstract PDF: The grading of astrocytoma has traditionally relied on histological assessment, but there are some differences in their parameters, application, and reproducibility. Recently, numerous studies have attempted to correlate biological aggresiveness with tumor proliferation index using new immunohistochemical methods. The purpose of this study is to correlate the histopathological grades of astrocytoma with the expression of Ki-67, PCNA, p53 protein and AgNORs. The paraffin sections of 41 consecutive cases of astrocytomas were examined. Histologically the tumors were graded as three groups under the St. Anne-Mayo system and showed 14 cases in grade II, 15 cases in grade III and 12 cases in grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme). As a result, the Ki-67 labelling index and p53 protein expression tended to increase with increasing grade of malignancy. But the univariate analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the tumor grades (p>0.05). The PCNA labelling index and number of AgNORs revealed striking differences between the grade II and grade III astrocytomas (p<0.05). We concluded that the PCNA labelling index and AgNORs counting are useful markers for differentiation between grade II and III astrocytomas.

Immunohistochemical Study on the Expression of Mutated p53 Protein and Bcl-2 Protein in Melanocytic Lesions of Skin.: Wha Jin Lee, Joon Hyuk Choi, Won Hee Choi; Korean J Pathol. 1997;31(2):112-120.

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Abstract PDF: To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of mutated p53 protein and bcl-2 protein in the cutaneous melanocytic lesion, 15 cases of compound nevus, 10 cases of congenital melanocytic nevus, 15 cases of primary malignant melanoma(4 cases less than 1.5 mm thick and 11 cases more than 1.5 mm thick), and 10 cases of metastatic malignant melanoma(7 cases in lymph node and 3 cases in soft tissue) were examined. All cases of compound nevi and of congenital melanocytic nevi showed no immunoreactivity for p53 protein. p53 protein overexpression was observed in 75%(3/4) wth primary malignant melanoma less than 1.5 mm thick, 81%(9/11) with primary malignant melanoma more than 1.5 mm thick, and 100%(10/10) with metastatic malignant melanoma. The difference in p53 protein overexpression was statistically significant between benign nevi and malignant melanoma(p<0.01). Bcl-2 protein expression was observed in 73%(11/15) with compound nevus, 70%(7/10) with congenital melanocytic nevus, 75% (3/4) in primary malignant melanoma less than 1.5 mm thick, 54%(6/11) with primary malignant melanoma more than 1.5 mm thick, and 40%(4/10) with metastatic malignant melanoma. These findings suggested that mutation of p53 gene may be an important mechanism in the development of malignant melanoma. Although bcl-2 protein was expressed in cutaneous melanocytic lesion, no correlation was found between p53 protein and bcl-2 protein expression in malignant melanoma.

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