Bcl-2 expression in breast carcinomas

Abstract

BCL-2 family of genes was originally identified when bcl-2 was cloned from the chromosome 18q contributing to the t(14:18) translocation in follicular lymphoma. In breast carcinoma, bcl-2 is the epitome of an antiapoptotic or survival gene. In breast carcinoma, a high extent of apoptosis is associated with poor prognosis. In this. study 25 cases of breast carcinoma were studied. Routinely processed tissues were sectioned and stained with H & E and graded according to Bloom and Richardson's grading. In our study 17 were grade III, 7 grade II and 1 grade I. Expression of bcl-2 was studied immunohistochemically using DAKO clone 124 and AEC as chromogen employing the ABC method. The ductal lining epithelial cells served as in built control and the expression of bcl-2 was studied and correlated with the grade. Our study concluded that bcl-2 was weakly positive or negative in grade III, highly positive in grade I and its expression indicates a better prognosis in breast carcinoma.