Bcl-2 Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Published in: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2007-01, Vol.1095 (1), p.19-25
• Main Authors: POPOVIĆ, B., JEKIĆ, B., NOVAKOVIĆ, I., LUKOVIĆ, L.J., TEPAVČEVIĆ, Z., JURIŠIĆ, V., VUKADINOVIĆ, M., MILAŠIN, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; apoptosis; Apoptosis - genetics; bcl-2 expression; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - chemistry; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Female; Humans; Lip Neoplasms - chemistry; Lip Neoplasms - metabolism; Lip Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms - chemistry; Mouth Neoplasms - metabolism; Mouth Neoplasms - pathology; oral cavity; oral squamous cell carcinoma; Prognosis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - biosynthesis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - genetics; Tongue Neoplasms - chemistry; Tongue Neoplasms - metabolism; Tongue Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 0077-8923; 1749-6632
• DOI: 10.1196/annals.1397.003

:  Apoptosis is a genetically regulated process involved in tissue size regulation, morphogenesis, and elimination of genetically damaged cells. A pallet of genes is involved in the control of apoptosis, such as bcl‐2 family whose oncogenic potential has been demonstrated in oral tumorigenesis. Different members of bcl‐2 family may promote or inhibit apoptosis by synthesizing anti‐ and proapoptotic proteins. One of antiapoptotic proteins, bcl‐2, with a crucial role in apoptosis regulation was the object of our study. By means of immunohistochemistry we estimated the level of overexpression of bcl‐2 proteins in a series of the 26 formalin fixed, paraffin‐embedded samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Analyzed tumors originated from different sites of oral cavity; 7/26 belonged to stage II, 14/26 to stage III, and 5/26 to stage IV. Immunoreactivity was scored according to the percentage and intensity of positive cytoplasmic bcl‐2 staining. All tumors had low percentage of positively stained bcl‐2 cells, with mean values for lower/higher intensity of 8.3 ± 2.5/34.4 ± 7, 7.5 ± 1.1/31.9 ± 4.3, and 8.4 ± 5.8/31.5 ± 5.8 within stages II, III, and IV, respectively. Low level of bcl‐2 expression in our sample seems to be associated with higher survival rate: 77% for the 5‐year follow‐up period. Comparing clinicopathologic and risk factors data within each and between three groups of analyzed tumors (lip–tongue P= 0.58, tongue–floor of the mouth, P= 0.21, lip–floor of the mouth, P= 0.50) there was no significant difference. However, our results suggest that the level of bcl‐2 expression could be a valuable predictor of tumor behavior and disease outcome.