Expression and significance of proapoptotic gene Bax in gastric carcinoma

AIM:To study the expression of proapoptotic gene Bax in human gastric carcinoma and its significance.METHODS:Using immunohistochemistry methods, the Bax protein expression in 57 specimens of gastric carcinoma and its relationship with clinical status and pathomorphological parameters were observed.RESULTS:Thirty- three (57.9%) cases were positive for Bax protein staining which was mainly located in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. The rate of Bax protein expression was not correlated with the tumor size, lymph node metastasis, depth of invasion, clinical stages of tumors and age and sex of patients (P >0.05), but strongly associated with the morphological type and differentiation degree of tumors. It was significantly higher in intestinal type and well or moderately differentiated gastric carcinoma than in diffuse type and poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma (P < 0.05 and P <0.01).CONCLUSION:The proapoptotic gene Bax is differently expressed in most of gastric carcinoma and may take part in the modulation of apoptosis in gastric carcinoma. The expression of Bax might be associated with the occurrence of intestinal type gastric carcinoma and the differentiation of gastric carcinoma.