Elsevier

Human Pathology

Volume 27, Issue 4, April 1996, Pages 355-359
Human Pathology

Original contribution
Differential expression of the bcl-2 oncogene in human basal cell carcinoma

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0046-8177(96)90108-2Get rights and content

Abstract

The bcl-2 protein increases cell longevity and reduces apoptosis. Expression of the bcl-2 oncogene is reported in certain low grade neoplasms including basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). The authors postulated that the indolent variants of BCC, namely, the superficial and circumscribed subtypes, might exhibit greater bcl-2 expression than their aggressive counterparts, and used a monoclonal antibody to identify its protein product in formalin-fixed tissue from 30 BCCs. Expression of bcl-2, observed in 28 of 30 BCCs, was greatest in indo lent-growth BCCs and weakest in the aggressive-growth variants (P = .005). Variable bcl-2 expression is seen in BCC and may be integral to both its pathogenesis and its biological behavior.

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  • Cited by (0)

    Presented at the USCAP meeting, Toronto, Ontario, March 11 to 17, 1995.

    1

    Dr. Kadin was supported by NIH grant no. RO1-CA54062.

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