Toni[a]
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2001;39 Suppl 2:179-80
BCL2 and BAX mRNA concentration profile in fibrillary astrocytoma.
Mazurek U, Bierzynska-Macyszyn G, Gola J, Orchel J, Slowinski J, Wilczok T.
Department of Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Biopharmacy, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. umazurek@farmant.slam.katowice.pl
A high level of the BCL2 protein and the lack of apoptosis promoting protein BAX are beginning to be treated as markers of cellular resistance to anti-neoplastic drugs. The object of the study were specimens from stereotactic biopsy of Astrocytoma fibrillare in the central brain area, inaccessible to conventional surgery. The cytological preparations have been evaluated with histopathological and immunohistochemical methods in order to determine the origin of the tumour and assess cell proliferation activity. The molecular analysis conducted in order to determine the sensitivity of the tumour to radio- or chemotherapy included the determination of the number of mRNA BCL2 alpha and beta molecules and of BAX in 1 microg total RNA obtained from microscope slides. A higher expression of BAX than of BCL2-alpha is a prognosis for a positive result of chemo- or radiotherapy. A trace number of mRNA BCL2-beta molecules and a smaller number of mRNA BCL2-alpha molecules than mRNA BAX is a good prognosis for therapy.