Immunoexpression of Bcl-2 in Breast Carcinoma: Association with Clinicopathological Parameters

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. It is an immensely heterogeneous disease, characterized by a broad variety of clinical development. The research in recent years has focused on finding new markers of prognostic significance. Bcl-2, the protein product of the Bcl-2 gene, is a member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins that play a crucial role in a complex mechanism of apoptosis. It was recently proposed that Bcl-2 could inhibit cancer progression. Aims of the study: To evaluate the role of Bcl-2 oncoprotein expression in patients with breast carcinoma and its relation with various clinic pathological parameters. Patients and Methods: Hundred cases of primary breast cancer were included in this prospective retrospective study. The cases were collected from Rizgary Teaching Hospital and Private Laboratories during a period of ten months from February to November 2013. The expression of Bcl-2 oncoprotein was evaluated immunohis to chemically; the findings were correlated with the age of the patients, size, type and grade of the tumor, lymph node status, vascular invasion, and the estrogen and progesterone receptors. Results: Bcl-2 oncoprotein was detected in 61 cases of primary breast cancer (61%). In this study the majority of estrogen and progesterone receptors positive cases, (71%) and (59%) respectively, showed positive Bcl-2 oncoprotein expression, (P=0.030) and (P=0.001) respectively. No significant correlation with the age of the patient, size, type, grade of the tumor, lymph node status nor with lymphovascular invasion could be found, (P=0.218), (P=0.410), (p=0.947), (p=0.938), (p=0.190), (P=0.370) respectively. Conclusions: Bcl-2 oncoprotein was frequently expressed in primary breast cancer. This study revealed a significant correlation between Bcl-2 and the estrogen and progesterone receptors. Our results suggest that Bcl-2 expression may be related to hormonal regulation. Larger patient study groups with a long follow up period will be helpful to clarify the prognostic significance of Bcl-2.

Bcl-2 Immunoexpression in Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and Its Evaluative Correlation with Molecular Sub-Types and BR-Grade and TNM Stage

“…Rashid, AL-Sakkal [15] studied 61 cases of primary breast cancer in which 71% of ER positive cases and 59% of PR positive cases depicted positive Bcl-2 oncoprotein expression, having p-values (p = 0.030) and (p = 0.001) respectively.…”

“…The Bcl-2 expression as published in the western literature have shown its predictive utility and therefore its inclusion in the reporting of histopathology is considered as an essential component [14,15]. Detecting Bcl-2 immunoexpression in the tumour cell therefore create a frame for appropriate treatment and management of invasive ductal carcinoma.…”