Immunohistochemical study of bcl-2, p53 and Ki-67 expressions in collecting duct carcinoma of the kidney. Five cases and review of the literature on bcl-2, p53 and Ki-67 expressions in renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to examine the expressions of bcl-2, p53 and Ki-67 antigen in collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) of the kidney by an immunohistochemical method. METHODS: The diagnosis of CDC was based on the criteria proposed by Srigley and Eble. The clinical courses of 5 CDC cases examined in this study suggested that 3 cases were low grade and 2 cases high grade. The expressions of bcl-2, p53 and Ki-67 antigen were evaluated in paraffin-embedded surgical specimens using anti-bcl-2 and anti-p53 antibodies and Ki-67 antigen, respectively. RESULTS: The expression of bcl-2 was recognized in 3 of 5 cases (60%), p53 expression also in 3 of 5 cases (60%). The Ki-67 labeling index was 7.46 +/- 7.40 (mean +/- SD). CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that there were two clinical types in CDC; the expression of bcl-2 did not correlate with the CDC patients' clinical courses and the cellular proliferation, and p53 expression was recognized in the CDC patients with highly cellular proliferation.