Journal of Southern Medical University ›› 2005, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (08): 1001-1004.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of preoperative lymphatic chemotherapy on Bcl-2 and Bax expression in axillary metastasis of breast cancer

WU Wu-jun1, PAN Cheng-en1, ZENG jian2   

  1. 1. 西安交通大学第一医院普通外科, 陕西, 西安, 710061;
    2. 广西医科大学第一附属医院胃肠腺体外科, 广西, 南宁, 530021
  • Online:2005-08-20 Published:2005-08-20

Abstract: Objective To observe the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins and cell apoptosis induced by preoperative lymphatic chemotherapy with epirubicin-activated carbon suspension (Epi-CH) in the cells of axillary metastatic lymph node of breast cancer and investigate the mechanism. Methods Sixty patients with breast cancer of stages Ⅱ-Ⅲ were randomly divided into two groups. Forty patients in Epi-CH group were injected with 10 mg Epi-CH in the tissue around the primary tumor or biopsy excision 72 h before operation. Twenty patients in the control group were injected with 10 mg epirubicin solution in the same region. The stained lymph nodes full of tumor cells in Epi-CH group and the non-stained nodes in the control group were selected for apoptotic detection by TUNEL method. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were examined by SP immunohistochemistry. Results The apoptotic index of the metastatic cancer cells in Epi-CH group was increased remarkably in comparison with that in the control group [(9.5±2.7) % vs (3.8±1.4) %, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were up-regulated significantly in Epi-CH group (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively), resulting in decreased ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. Conclusion Lymphatic chemotherapy can promote cell apotosis in axillary metastasis of breast cancer, which may result from decreased ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.

CLC Number: