Evaluation Immunohistochemical of BCL-2 Marker Expression in Pleomorphic Adenoma and Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and Polymorphous Low Grade Adenocarcinoma

BCL-2 is the first gene involved in apoptosis and was regarded as a proto-oncogene that suppresses the cell death rather than stimulating cell proliferation. The present study was conducted to assess and compare the immunohistochemical expression of BCL-2 in selected benign (Pleomorphic adenoma) (PA) and (adenoid cystic carcinoma and polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma) (ACC¡ PLGA) salivary gland tumors.
In this in vitro study seven ACC and three PLGA tumors were considered as malignant and 17 PA as benign tumors. The immunohistochemical staining procedure was performed using BCL-2marker¡ as directed by the manufacturer. Results were assessed in percentage of cells stained in 0-3 [0(negative)¡ 1(1%-30%)¡ 2(31%-70%)¡ 3(71%-100%)] scores.
All malignant tumors showed a positive expression for BCL-2whereas only %58 of benign tumors was positive. Statistical significance was observed with regard to BCL-2expression in benign and malignant tumors. In findings of this study no relationship between BCL-2expression with independent variables such as age¡ sex¡ and the origin of the lesion was found.
According the results of the present study greater expression of BCL-2in malignant salivary gland neoplasm suggests a higher survival rate of tumor cells in malignant tumors. It seems that BCL-2 is not a suitable marker to differentiate various salivary gland tumors from each other.