Expression of Bcl-2 in primary and recurrent odontogenic keratocysts in comparison with other odontogenic lesions

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the biological behaviour of common odontogenic cystic lesions by analysing and comparing bcl-2 expression amongst them. Materials and Methods: Our study covered 90 formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue samples: 26 primary cases each of radicular cysts (RC), dentigerous cysts (DC) and odontogenic keratocysts (OKC) and 12 of recurrent OKCs. Bcl-2 expression was analysed immunohistochemically and data analysis was accomplished using SPSS version 17.0. Means were taken for age while for gender and site of the lesions frequencies and percentages were determined. The Chi-square test was applied to evaluate any statistically significant difference of bcl-2 expression in these lesions and p value of =0.05 was taken as significant. Results: All the recurrent OKCs showed a strong positivity for bcl-2 that was absent in all of its primary cases (p value < 0.05). Although variation in expression of bcl-2 was not found to be statistically significant between RC and DC, however, it became significant when all primary cases of these common odontogenic lesions were compared. Conclusions: Recurrent OKC showed comparatively a more aggressive behaviour than their primary counterparts and also from RC and DC. Bcl-2 proved to be a valuable adjunct in determining aggressive biological behaviour of odontogenic lesions.