• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.51-59
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• 2019

Purpose: We evaluated failure pattern and treatment outcomes of observational approach on regional lymph node (LN) in cutaneous melanoma of extremities and sought to find clinico-pathologic factors related to LN metastases. Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 73 patients with cutaneous melanoma of extremities between 2005 and 2016. If preoperative 18-F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) findings were non-specific for regional LNs, surgical resection of primary tumors with adequate margins was performed without sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and/or complete lymph node dissection (CLND), irrespective of tumor thickness or size. In patients with suspicious or positive findings on PET/CT or CT, SLNB followed by CLND or CLND was performed at the discretion of the surgeon. We defined LN dissection (LND) as SLNB and/or CLND. Results: With a median follow-up of 38 months (range, 6 to 138 months), the dominant pattern of failure was regional failure (17 of total 23 events, 74%) in the observation group (n = 56). Pathologic LN metastases were significant factor for poor regional failure-free survival (hazard ration [HR] = 3.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-10.33; p = 0.044) and overall survival (HR = 3.62; 95% CI, 1.02-12.94; p = 0.047) in multivariate analysis. In subgroup analysis for cN0 patients according to the preoperative PET/CT findings, LND group showed the better trend of LRFFS (log rank test, p = 0.192) and RFFS (p = 0.310), although which is not statistically significant. Conclusion: Observational approach on regional LNs on the basis of the PET/CT in patients with cutaneous melanoma of extremities showed the dominant regional failure pattern compared to upfront LND approach. To reveal regional lymph node status, SLND for cN0 patients may of importance in managing cutaneous melanoma patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.44-51
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• 2020

Purpose: To evaluate the necessity of regional nodal irradiation (RNI) for pT1-2N1 breast cancer patients treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy, we compared clinical outcomes of patients treated with and without RNI. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 214 pT1-2N1 breast cancer patients treated with breast-conserving surgery and whole breast irradiation from 2007-2016. There were 142 (66.4%), 51 (23.85%), and 21 (9.8%) patients with one, two, and three positive lymph nodes, respectively. Thirty-six patients (16.8%) underwent RNI. Adjuvant chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and anti-HER2 therapy were given to 91.6%, 79.0%, and 15.0% patients, respectively. The most common chemotherapy regimen was anthracycline + cyclophosphamide, followed by taxane (76.5%). The median follow-up was 64 months (range, 6 to 147 months). Patients were propensity matched 1:2 into RNI and no-RNI groups. Results: Two patients experienced locoregional recurrences simultaneously with distant metastases, ten patients developed distant metastases, and one patient died. Before matching, the 5-year actuarial locoregional control (LRC), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival (OS) rates in the RNI and no-RNI groups were 100.0% and 99.4% (p = 0.629), 94.1% and 96.0% (p = 0.676), and 100.0% and 99.4% (p = 0.658), respectively. After matching, the 5-year LRC, DMFS, and OS were 98.3% and 100.0% (p = 0.455), 96.6% and 93.9% (p = 0.557), and 100.0% and 100.0% (p > 0.999) in the RNI and no-RNI groups, respectively. No clinicopathologic or treatment-related factors were significantly associated with LRC, DMFS, or OS. Conclusion: Adding RNI did not show superior LRC, DMFS, or OS in pT1-2N1 breast cancer patients.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권8호
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• pp.401-406
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• 2022

Ahnak, a large protein first identified as an inhibitor of TGF-β signaling in human neuroblastoma, was recently shown to promote TGF-β in some cancers. The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, various biological functions, and cancer growth and metastasis. In this study, we used Ahnak knockout (KO) mice that underwent a 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) to investigate the function of Ahnak in TGF-β signaling during liver regeneration. At the indicated time points after PH, we analyzed the mRNA and protein expression of the TGF -β/Smad signaling pathway and cell cycle-related factors, evaluated the cell cycle through proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining, analyzed the mitotic index by hematoxylin and eosin staining. We also measured the ratio of liver tissue weight to body weight. Activation of TGF-β signaling was confirmed by analyzing the levels of phospho-Smad 2 and 3 in the liver at the indicated time points after PH and was lower in Ahnak KO mice than in WT mice. The expression levels of cyclin B1, D1, and E1; proteins in the Rb/E2F transcriptional pathway, which regulates the cell cycle; and the numbers of PCNA-positive cells were increased in Ahnak KO mice and showed tendencies opposite that of TGF-β expression. During postoperative regeneration, the liver weight to body weight ratio tended to increase faster in Ahnak KO mice. However, 7 days after PH, both groups of mice showed similar rates of regeneration, following which their active regeneration stopped. Analysis of hepatocytes undergoing mitosis showed that there were more mitotic cells in Ahnak KO mice, consistent with the weight ratio. Our findings suggest that Ahnak enhances TGF-β signaling during postoperative liver regeneration, resulting in cell cycle disruption; this highlights a novel role of Ahnak in liver regeneration. These results provide new insight into liver regeneration and potential treatment targets for liver diseases that require surgical treatment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권7호
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• pp.864-874
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• 2023

Natural killer (NK) cell dysfunctions against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a hypoxic environment. Many solid tumors are present in a hypoxic condition, which changes the effector function of various immune cells. The transcription of hypoxic-inducible factors (HIFs) in cancer cells make it possible to adapt to their hypoxic environment and to escape the immune surveillance of NK cells. Recently, the correlation between the transcription of HIF-1α and pro-inflammatory cytokines has been reported. Interleukin (IL)-6 is higher in cancers with a highly invasive ability, and is closely related to the metastasis of cancers. This study showed that the expression of HIF-1α in HCC cells was associated with the presence of IL-6 in the environment of HCC-NK cells. Blocking of IL-6 by antibody in the HCC-NK interaction changed the production of several cytokines including TGF-β, IL-1, IL-18 and IL-21. Interestingly, in a co-culture of HIF-1α-expressed HCC cells and NK cells, blocking of IL-6 increased the production of IL-21 in their supernatants. In addition, the absence of IL-6 significantly enhanced the cytotoxic ability and the expression of the activating receptors (NKG2D, NKp44, and NKG2C) in NK cells to HIF-1α-expressed HCC cells. These effects might be made by the decreased expression of HIF-1α in HCC cells through the inhibited phosphorylation of STAT3. In conclusion, the absence of IL-6 in the interaction of HIF-1α-expressed HCC cells and NK cells could enhance the antitumor activity of NK cells to HCC cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.25.1-25.15
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• 2023

Mucosal environments harbour lymphocytes, which express several adhesion molecules, including intestinal homing receptors and integrin αE/β7 (CD103). CD103 binds E-cadherin, an integrin receptor expressed in intestinal endothelial cells. Its expression not only enables homing or retention of T lymphocytes at these sites but is also associated with increased T lymphocyte activation. However, it is not yet clear how CD103 expression is related to the clinical staging of breast cancer, which is determined by factors such as the size of the tumor (T), the involvement of nearby lymph nodes (N), and presence of metastasis (M). We examined the prognostic significance of CD103 by FACS in 53 breast cancer patients and 46 healthy controls enrolled, and investigated its expression, which contributes to lymphocyte recruitment in tumor tissue. Patients with breast cancer showed increased frequencies of CD103⁺, CD4⁺CD103⁺, and CD8⁺CD103⁺ cells compared to controls. CD103 was expressed at a high level on the surfaces of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with breast cancer. Its expression in peripheral blood was not correlated with clinical TNM stage. To determine the localisation of CD103⁺ cells in breast tissue, tissue sections of breast tumors were stained for CD103. In tissue sections of breast tumors stained for CD103, its expression in T lymphocytes was higher compared to normal breast tissue. In addition, CD103⁺ cells expressed higher levels of receptors for inflammatory chemokines, compared to CD103^- cells. CD103⁺ cells in peripheral blood and tumor tissue might be an important source of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte trafficking, homing, and retention in cancer patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.409-423
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• 1998

목적 : 비소세포성 폐암 환자에서 근치적 방사선 치료 단독 또는 항암화학요법과 병용으로 치료했을 때, 환자의 임상적 양상, 실패 양상, 생존율, 생존에 영향을 미치는 인자 및 방사선치료와 연관된 부작용에 대하여 알아보기 위하여 본 연구를 시행하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 1982년 3월부터 1996년 4월까지 비소세포성 폐암으로 이화대학병원 치료방사선과에서 근치적 목적의 방사선치료를 시행받은 70명의 환자에 대한 치료 결과를 후향적으로 분석하였다. 환자의 병기는 1기 2례, 2기 6례, 3-A기 30례, 3-B기 29례, 4기가 3례였다. 방사선치료는 6MV X-선을 이용하여 일일선량 1.8y-2.0Gy씩 주 5회 조사하였고, 총방사선량은 50.4-72.0Gy(중앙값 59.4Gy)였다. 전체 환자 중 34례(47$\%$)에서 유도 또는 동시 화학요법이 시행되었고 대부분 etoposide와 cisplatin이 포함된 복합화학요법이었다. 관찰조사가 사망 또는 연구시점까지 가능했던 경우가 43례(61$\%$)였고 생존율은 Kapian-Meier 방법으로 분석하였다. 결과 : 전체 환자의 생존율은 1년 63$\%$, 2년 29$\%$, 3년 26$\%$였고, 중앙생존기간은 17개월이였으며, 무병생존율은 1년 23$\%$, 2년 16$\%$였다. 각 병기별 전체 1년 생존율은 1기 100$\%$, 2기 80$\%$, 3기 61$\%$, 4기 50$\%$였고, 3기 환자만의 생존율은 1년 61$\%$, 2년 23$\%$, 3년 20$\%$였고, 중앙생존기간은 15개월이었다. 방사선치료 후 완전관해가 11례(16$\%$), 부분관해가 35례(50$\%$)인 반면, 국소제어된 경우는 30례(43$\%$)로서, 이 중 24례(80$\%$)에서 치료실패에 대한 추적관찰이 가능하였으며, 추적된 24례에서 치료실패를 보인 14례(58$\%$)중 6례(43$\%$)는 국소재발, 6례(43$\%$)는 원격전이, 2례(14$\%$)는 국소재발과 원격전이가 동반된 경우로서 전체 환자 중 16례(23$\%$)에서 국소치유를 관찰할 수 있었다. 원격전이에 대한 추적관찰이 가능한 50례 중 23례(46$\%$)에서 원격전이를 보였다. 근치적 방사선 치료만 시행한 군의 1년 생존율은 59$\%$, 유도 또는 동시 화학요법이 복합된 군은 68$\%$로서 두 군간의 생존율 차이는 다변량분석에서 통계학적 의의가 있었고(p=0.0049), 3기 환자만의 경우 방사선치료 단독군의 1년 생존율은 51$\%$, 유도 또는 동시 화학요법 병행군은 68$\%$로서 통계학적으로 유의한 생존율 차이가 있었다(p=0.0015). 단변수 변량분석에서 전체환자는 병기(p=0.015) 및 국소제어유무(p=0.0001)가, 3기 환자군은 유도 또는 동시 화학요법 병행 유무(p=0.0488), 시기에 무관한 화학요법 시행 유무(P=0.001) 및 국소제어 유무(p=0.0001)가 통계적 유의성이 있었으며, 다변수 변량분석에서 전체 환자 또는 3기 환자만을 대상으로 할 때 병기(p=0.0001), 치료전 전신수행능력(p=0.001), 유도 또는 동시 화학요법 병행유무(p=0.0015), 총방사선량(p=0.0049), 국소제어 유무(P=0.0001)가 통계적 의의가 있었다. 방사선치료와 관련된 합병증은 식도염, 방사선폐렴, 혈액학적 부작용, 피부염이었으며, 2례의 치명적인 방사선폐렴이 관찰되었다. 결론 : 비소세포성 폐암 환자에서 고식적인 방사선 치료만으로는 만족할만한 생존율을 얻기 어려우므로 원격전이 제어에 필요한 적절한 복합화학요법의 추가가 필요하고, 국소제어율을 높이기 위해서는 수술을 병용하는 다원적 치료나 충분한 방사선량을 조사하기 위한 다분할조사방법의 활용 등 적극적인 치료가 필요하다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제59권6호
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• pp.570-576
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• 2016

Objective : Elevated cell counts and protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) result from disease activity in patients with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC). Previous studies evaluated the use of CSF profiles to monitor a treatment response or predict prognosis. CSF profiles vary, however, according to the sampling site and the patient's systemic condition. We compared lumbar and ventricular CSF profiles collected before intraventricular chemotherapy for LMC and evaluated the association of these profiles with patients' systemic factors and LMC disease activity. Methods : CSF profiles were retrospectively collected from 228 patients who underwent Ommaya reservoir insertion for intraventricular chemotherapy after a diagnosis of LMC. Lumbar samples taken via lumbar puncture were used for the diagnosis, and ventricular samples were obtained later at the time of Ommaya reservoir insertion. LMC disease activity was defined as the presence of LMC-related symptoms such as increased intracranial pressure, hydrocephalus, cranial neuropathy, and cauda equina syndrome. Results : Cell counts (median : 8 vs. 1 cells/mL) and protein levels (median : 68 vs. 17 mg/dL) significantly higher in lumbar CSF than in ventricular CSF (p<0.001). Among the evaluated systemic factors, concomitant brain metastasis and previous radiation were significantly correlated with higher protein levels in the lumbar CSF (p=0.01 and <0.001, respectively). Among the LMC disease activity, patients presenting with hydrocephalus or cauda equina syndrome showed higher lumbar CSF protein level compared with that in patients without those symptoms (p=0.049 and p<0.001, respectively). The lumbar CSF cell count was significantly lower in patients with cranial neuropathy (p=0.046). The ventricular CSF cell counts and protein levels showed no correlation with LMC symptoms. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which was measured from ventricular CSF after the diagnosis in 109 patients, showed a significant association with the presence of hydrocephalus (p=0.01). Conclusion : The protein level in lumbar CSF indicated the localized disease activity of hydrocephalus and cauda equina syndrome. In the ventricular CSF, only the CEA level reflected the presence of hydrocephalus. We suggest using more specific biomarkers for the evaluation of ventricular CSF to monitor disease activity and treatment response.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권9호
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• pp.4065-4069
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• 2015

Background: Epidermal growth factor-like domain multiple 7 (EGFL7), a secreted protein specifically expressed by endothelial cells during embryogenesis, recently was identified as a critical gene in tumor metastasis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was found to be closely related with tumor progression. Accordingly, it is important to investigate the migration and EMT change after knock-down of EGFL7 gene expression in human pancreatic cancer cells. Materials and Methods: EGFL7 expression was firstly testified in 4 pancreatic cancer cell lines by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and western blot, and the highest expression of EGFL7 was found in PANC-1 cell line. Then, PANC-1 cells transfected with small interference RNA (siRNA) of EGFL7 using plasmid vector were named si-PANC-1, while transfected with negative control plasmid vector were called NC-PANC-1. Transwell assay was used to analyze the migration of PANC-1 cells. Real-time PCR and western blotting were used to detect the expression change of EGFL7 gene, EMT markers like E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin, Vimentin, Fibronectin and transcription factors like snail, slug in PANC-1, NCPANC-1, and si-PANC-1 cells, respectively. Results: After successful plasmid transfection, EGFL7 gene were dramatically knock-down by RNA interference in si-PANC-1 group. Meanwhile, migration ability decreased significantly, compared with PANC-1 and NC-PANC-1 group. Meanwhile, the expression of epithelial phenotype marker E-Cadherin increased and that of mesenchymal phenotype markers N-Cadherin, Vimentin, Fibronectin dramatically decreased in si-PANC-1 group, indicating a reversion of EMT. Also, transcription factors snail and slug decreased significantly after RNA interference. Conclusions: Current study suggested that highly-expressed EGFL7 promotes migration of PANC-1 cells and acts through transcription factors snail and slug to induce EMT, and further study is needed to confirm this issue.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.339-348
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• 1995

목적 : 위암의 간문맥 임파절 재발로 발생한 악성 폐쇄성 황달치료에 있어서 외부 방사선치료의 효과를 평가해 보고 치료의 결과에 영향을 미칠 수 있는 요인을 알아보고자 하였다. 방법 : 1984년부터 1993년까지 위암의 간문맥 전이로 악성 폐쇄성 황달이 발생한 32명중 3000cGy이상의 방사선량이 조사된 23명을 대상으로 하였다. 치료 결과에 영향을 미칠 수 있는 요인을 알아보기 위하여 방사선량, 황달발생 당시의 질병의 진전정도 및 황달을 일으키는 종피의 위치, 방사선치료 전 총 bilirubin치, 다른 치료와의 병합여부, 원발병소의 수술정도, 재발전 병기를 분석하였다. 외부 방사선치료는 4백만 전자볼트 선형가속기를 이용하여 주 5회, 1회 180-300cGy를 간문맥을 포함하는 부위에 3000cGy-5480cGy(중앙값 3770cGy,TDF 49-86 3420cGy-5580cGy 중앙값 TDF 65, 4140cGy/23fx)가 조사되었다. TDF 65(4140cGy/23fx 이상과 미만을 받은 환자는 각각 13, 10명이었다. 결과 : 전체 환자 23명중 완전관해 13명, 부분관해 5명, 무반응 5명이었다. 전체 환자의 중앙 생존 기간은 5개월이나 완전관해의 경우는 11개월이고 부분관해와 무반응의 경우 각각 3개월이었다. 완전관해를 보인 13명중 6명이 1년 이상 생존하였다. 완전관해의 경우와 부분관해, 무반응과의 생존 기간의 비교에서 의미있는 차이를 보였다(p<0.05). TDF 65인 4140cGy 이상을 받은 13명중 완전관해, 부분관해, 무반응이 각각 10, 2, 1명이었다. 이들 전체환자의 중앙 생존 기간은 9.5개월 이었고 완전관해를 이룬경우 11.5개월 이었다. 그러나 TDF 65(4140cGy/23fx) 미만을 받은 10명중 완전관해, 부분관해, 무반응이 각각 3, 3, 4명 이었고 이들의 중앙 생존 기간은 4.3개월 이었다. 따라서 방사선량이 치료 결과에 영향을 미치며 완전관해를 이루기 위해서는 TOF 65(4140cGy/23fx)이상이 조사되어야 할 것이다. 치료시 질병의 진전정도는 완전관해를 보인 경우 7명이 간문맥이나 췌장 주위에만 국한된 병변을가졌고(5명 담도계하부 병변) 무반응과 부분반응을 보인 모든 환자는 광범위한 질병의 진전이 있거나, 일차병변의 지속상태였다. 질병의 진전상태가 국소적일수록, 담도계하부에 국한되어 있을수록 완전관해의 가능성이 높고 1년 이상 장기생존이 가능할 것으로 추정된다. 완전관해인 경우 10명이 방사선치료후 계속적인 항암화학요법을 받았고 이들중 6명이 1년 이상 생존하였다. 치료 결과에 영향을 미칠 것으로 추정되는 요인으로 방사선량, 황달 발생당시 질병의 진전정도 및 황달을 일으키는 종괴의 위치로 분석 되었다. 외부 방사선치료중 경미한 위장관 부작용(오심, 구토)이 발생하였으나 방사선치료 시행에 영향을 미치지 않았다. 결론 : 위암의 재발로 인해 발생한 악성 폐쇄성 황달환자의 치료에 있어서 TDF 65(4140cGy/23fx) 이상의 외부 방사선치료 단독으로도 만족할 만한 고식적 효과를 이룰수 있고 방사선량과 재발 당시 질병의 진전정도가 치료 결과에 영향을 미칠 수 있는 요인으로 생각 된다.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.88-95
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• 2009

목적: 세포자멸사의 중요인자인 p53과 bcl-2의 개별발현 및 동시 발현이 갖는 위선암의 예후 인자로서의 역할과 생존율에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 1999년 12월에서 2007년 7월까지 위선암으로 분당제생병원 외과에서 근치적 위절제술을 시행 받은 238명의 환자들을 대상으로 자료의 후향적 분석을 시행하였다. p53과 bcl-2의 발현은 DAKO사의 Envision kit로 면역조직화학 염색을 하여 발현군을 양성으로 정의하였다. 결과: 전체 환자 중 p53은 149예(62.5%)에서 발현되었으며, 다른 임상병리학적 예후 인자와의 상관관계를 조사한 결과 세포분화도(P=0.028), TNM 병기(P<0.001)에서 유의성을 나타냈다. bcl-2은 29예(12.2%)가 발현되었으며, TNM 병기(P=0.005)에서 유의성을 나타냈다. 단변량 생존율 분석을 통해 p53과 bcl-2는 생존율 감소에 영향이 있으며, 다변량 생존율 분석을 통해 p53은 독립적 예후 인자로서의 확인되었다. 또한 두 단백의 동시 발현군도 TNM 병기(P=0.002)와 의미 있는 상관관계를 보였으며, 개별 발현 때보다 동시 발현 시 유의한 생존율 감소를 보였다(P<0.001). 결론: p53과 bcl-2의 개별 발현은 나쁜 예후를 나타내며, 이들의 동시 발현은 더욱 나쁜 예후를 나타냈다. 그러나 bcl-2는 다변량 분석에서 독립 예후인자로서 의미는 부족하여 더 많은 분석을 통해 명확히 할 필요가 있겠다.