Immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 in benign andmalignant salivary gland tumors

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to assess and compare the immunohistochemical expression ofBcl-2 in selected benign and malignant salivary gland tumors.Study Design: A total of 50 cases of buffered formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissues of previously diagnosedcases of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors from the archives of Department of Oral and MaxillofacialPathology and Microbiology, SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, India, were taken for thestudy. The immunohistochemical staining procedure was performed using monoclonal anti Bcl-2 antibody, asdirected by the manufacturer.Results: Thirty six cases (72%) out of 50 cases showed a positive expression for Bcl-2. Benign salivary glandtumors showed a positive expression in 8 out of 14 cases (~57%) and malignant salivary gland tumors in 28 outof 36 cases (~78%). The staining was intense in the normal lymph node, which is used as a positive control. Bcl-2expression was seen in both benign and in malignant salivary gland tumors taken for the study except in “canalicularadenoma”.Conclusion: The immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 was greater and more intense in malignant salivarygland neoplasms, suggesting a high survival rate of tumor cells in malignant neoplasms (AU)