title: bcl-2 protein expression in cutaneous malignant melanoma and benign melanocytic nevi.
abstract: bcl-2 is a proto-oncogene belonging to a new category of oncogenes that are not involved in the mechanisms of cell proliferation but instead influence tissue homeostasis regulating cell death. The gene encodes for a protein that preserves cells from death by apoptosis, allowing them to survive in G(o) phase even in the absence of essential growth factors. The expression of bcl-2 protein has been observed in most follicular lymphomas and in approximately 25% of high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, as well as in solid tumors such as carcinomas of the lung, prostate, and nasopharynx. In this study, we analyzed bcl-2 protein expression in cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM) (29 cases) and benign melanocytic nevi (BMN) (35 cases) using a high specific anti-bcl-2 monoclonal antibody with a standard three-step immunoperoxidase technique on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. High levels of bcl-2 protein were observed in 27 of 29 MM (93.1%) and 33 of 35 BMN (94.3%). Our results indicate that bcl-2 protein expression is a common finding in cutaneous melanocytic lesions regardless of their biologic behavior. Expression of the protein in the great majority of MM seems to exclude a prognostic significance of bcl-2 in MM of the skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cerroni
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Soyer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kerl
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D016923:Cell Death / Q000235:genetics; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018329:Nevus, Blue / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018332:Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000151:congenital / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins