Analysis of Bcl-2 protein expression in choroidal melanomas.
BACKGROUND
Bcl-2 protooncogene alterations are involved in tumorigenesis and may have prognostic ramifications.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate normal ocular structures and choroidal melanoma for: (1) Bcl-2 protein expression (semiquantitative staining values: SI, staining intensity; PP, percentage of positive cells; and IRS, immunoreactivity score) and (2) any associations between the staining values and clinicopathological features in these lesions.


METHODS
Bcl-2 protein expression was analysed in 24 choroidal melanomas using immunoperoxidase staining methods.


RESULTS
Bcl-2 protein expression was seen in corneal epithelium, lens epithelium, the ciliary body, and retinal cells. In these structures, the mean (SEM) values were: 1.1 (0.1), 1.6 (0.3), 1.1 (0.1), and 2.3 (0.3), respectively, for SI; 1.6 (0.2), 1.7 (0.1), 1.7 (0.2), and 1.7 (0.2) for PP, respectively; and 1.9 (0.4), 2.7 (0.5), 1.9 (0.1), and 4.0 (0.8), respectively, for IRS. Based on Bcl-2 immunoreactivity, the lesions were divided into two groups. The first group comprised 12 tumours with Bcl-2 expression. Bcl-2 expression was significantly higher in this group compared with normal ocular structures (1.5 (0.1) v 2.8 (0.2), 1.7 (0.1) v 3.5 (0.1), and 2.6 (0.3) v 9.3 (0.9) for mean (SEM) SI, PP, and IRS scores, respectively; p = 0.00). The second group comprised 12 tumours lacking Bcl-2 protein expression. There was no significant correlation between Bcl-2 protein expression and most of the clinicopathological features of these lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Bcl-2 protein expression is altered in choroidal melanomas.
Hussein
M R
MR
Pathology Department, School of Medicine, Assuit University, Egypt. mrh17@swissinfo.org
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000737:chemistry; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D012160:Retina / Q000737:chemistry
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2