Expression of Bcl-2 and its Significance in Thyroid Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the expression of suppressor gene Bcl-2 in thyroid tumors and its relationship to the oncogenesis,development and prognosis of the tumor.Methods The Expression of Bcl-2 was analyzed by immunohistochemical method in the tissues from 77 thyroid carcinomas,58 thyroid adenomas.40 thyroid tissues adjacent to cancer and 28 normal thyroid tissues.The positive expression rates in the different thyroid tissues were compared. Results Bcl-2 was expressed in 45.5% of the thyroid carcinoma,22.4% of the thyroid adenoma,17.5% of the thyroid tissues adjacent to cancer and non in normal thyroid tissues.The positive expression rate of Bcl-2 in the thyroid carcinoma was significantly higher than that in the thyroid adenoma(P=0.006),thyroid tissues adjacent to cancer(P=0.003)and normal tissues(P=0.000).In thyroid carcinoma,undifferentiated carcinoma,follicular carcinoma,carcinoma with positive lymph nodes,and tumors with stage Ⅲand Ⅳ disease had significantly higher expression of Bcl-2.Conclusion The overexpression of Bcl-2 may be related to the oncogenesis and development of thyroid tumor.Bcl-2 might be a possible prognostic factor of thyroid cancer.