Bcl-2 expression in mycosis fungoides before and after PUVA therapy

• Published in: Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine photoimmunology & photomedicine, 2010-04, Vol.26 (2), p.107-109
• Main Authors: Weshahy, Hani, Mahgoub, Doa, El-Eishy, Nermine, El-Tawdy, Amira Mohamed, Bassiouny, Dalia Ahmed, Hunter, Nahla, Hindawi, Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis - radiation effects; bcl-2; Bcl-2 protein; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Dermatology; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - radiation effects; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mycosis fungoides; Mycosis Fungoides - drug therapy; Mycosis Fungoides - metabolism; Mycosis Fungoides - pathology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - biosynthesis; PUVA; PUVA Therapy; Skin Neoplasms - drug therapy; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 0905-4383; 1600-0781
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2010.00496.x

PUVA is the first therapeutic choice in early stages of mycosis fungoides (MF). In this study the effect of PUVA on bcl‐2 expression in MF was assessed in 15 patients (three stage Ia and 12 stage Ib) and 10 controls. Two biopsies were taken from each patient before and after 24 sessions of PUVA therapy. Histopathological assessment and immunohistochemical staining for bcl‐2 was performed and showed positive bcl‐2 staining of lymphocytes in 53% of MF cases (8/15) before PUVA, with no statistically significant difference in the bcl‐2 level before and after PUVA therapy (P value 0.3). A statistically significant difference was found in the bcl‐2 level between control samples and MF patients' biopsies before (P value 0.02) and after PUVA therapy (P value 0.011). In conclusion, a lack of decline in the bcl‐2 level and the absence of clinical or histopathological correlation with the bcl‐2 level before and after PUVA therapy in MF patients suggest that PUVA‐induced apoptosis in MF cases may occur through pathways other than bcl‐2 inhibition.