Immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 in benign and malignant salivary gland tumors.

OBJECTIVES The present study was undertaken to assess and compare the immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-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 diagnosed cases of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors from the archives of Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, India, were taken for the study. The immunohistochemical staining procedure was performed using monoclonal anti Bcl-2 antibody, as directed by the manufacturer. RESULTS Thirty six cases (72%) out of 50 cases showed a positive expression for Bcl-2. Benign salivary gland tumors showed a positive expression in 8 out of 14 cases (~57%) and malignant salivary gland tumors in 28 out of 36 cases (~78%). The staining was intense in the normal lymph node, which is used as a positive control. Bcl-2 expression was seen in both benign and in malignant salivary gland tumors taken for the study except in "canalicular adenoma". CONCLUSION The immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 was greater and more intense in malignant salivary gland neoplasms, suggesting a high survival rate of tumor cells in malignant neoplasms.