The importance of immunohistochemistry analysis of p53 and Bcl-2 in patients with preoperative oncological therapy for rectal cancer

The aim of the study was to analyze the expression of certain proteins (p53, Bcl-2) and to find correlations between the status of these markers and clinicopathological parameters, and prognosis in patients with rectal cancer. This study included 50 patients diagnosed with rectal cancer (stage I-III AJCC staging system 8th edition) who underwent preoperative oncological treatment and then rectal resection procedures in Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest in the period 01.01.2016 – 31.12.2017. p53 and Bcl-2 expression was examined using immunohistochemistry from pathological specimens obtained after surgery in the Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest pathology laboratory. We observed significant associations between Bcl2 and age or extramural vascular invasion, and between p53 and hemoglobin value at admission. The univariate analysis of disease free survival (DFS) showed an important link between the presence of p53 and a poor prognosis, and the multivariate one demonstrated that the best outcome was registered for the patients with p53 negative/Bcl-2 positive phenotype. In conclusion, we believe that immunohistochemical detection of these proteins is an important tool in determining the prognosis of the patients with rectal cancer.