Figure 2
Expression of apoptosis modulators BCL-2, BAX and BBC3 during chemotherapy. The ratio of BCL2/BAX or BCL2/BBC3 mRNA was determined after Agilent Human Whole Genome Oligo Microarray analysis (A). Ratios were observed to decrease in the first hours post induction treatment, indicating an increase in pro-apoptotic gene expression. Ratios varied greatly between patients and low baseline ratios were associated with better response to treatment (Additional File 1). Ratios were normalized and mean presented with standard deviation (error bars) (B), indicating early pro-apoptotic alteration in BCL2/BAX mRNA. Two patients (P3 and P8) were treated with anthracycline ex vivo and protein expression analyzed using Western blots (C). The ex vivo response to anthracycline included increased stabilization of p53 followed by regulation of p53 target gene expression in concordance with in vivo observations.