Evaluation of Immunohistochemical Expression of BCL-2 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: Immunohistochemical (IHC) expression ofBcl-2 oncogene is helpful in characterization and prognosisof oral cancer. In the present study, we evaluated theimmunoexpression of Bcl-2 oncogene in oral squamouscell carcinoma (OSCC) tissue specimen and correlated itclinicohistopathologically.Material and Method: A total of 42 OSCC tissue specimenwere subjected to evaluation for immunohistochemicalexpression of Bcl-2 oncogene. IHC expression was scored as“-” (<5% positive cells), + (5–24% positive cells), ++ (25–50%positive cells) and +++ (>50% positive cells). Pathological Tstage, nodal status, histopathological grade, lymphovascularinvasion (LVI), perineural invasion (PNI) and mitotic index (MI)were noted. Data was analysed using SPSS 21 software.Chi-square, ANOVA and Kruskall-Wallis tests were used tocompare the data.Results: Mean age of patients was 49.05 ± 13.28 years,majority of them were males (83.3%). There was a dominanceof well/moderately differentiated (81%) cases. Lymphovascularand perineural invasion were seen in 16.7% and 26.2% cases.Majority had mitotic index 2 (66.7%), pT stage 3/4 (73.8%)and no nodal involvement (54.8%). Bcl-2 expression wasseen in 34 (81%) specimen. It was +, ++ and +++ in 6 (14.3%),15 (35.7%) and 13 (31.0%) cases. A significant correlationof Bcl-2 expression was seen with higher histopathologicalgrades, mitotic index and pT stage. There was no correlationof Bcl-2 expression with age, sex, LVI, PNI, MI and pNstatus.Conclusion: There was a high IHC expression of Bcl-2 oncogenewhich was significantly associated with histopathological gradeand pT stage. Bcl-2 expression could have a prognostic value.