Assessment of the expression of Bcl-2 with clinicopathological factors in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands: A retrospective study

Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a type of salivary gland cancer with a poor long-term survival rate. Understanding the pathophysiology of this type of cancer will expand the available therapy options. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein produces this early component within the Bcl-2 family of regulatory proteins, which can stimulate proapoptotic or inhibit cell death.

Aims: The goal of this study was to detect the expression of Bcl-2 in ACC of the salivary glands and relate the results to clinicopathological characteristics.

Materials and Methods: This study examined 35 histopathologically verified ACC of the salivary glands in the oral pathology laboratory at Specialist Surgical Hospital for the period (2011–2015). Bcl-2 expressions were investigated using an immunohistochemical analysis method. The expressions were correlated with clinical and histological evidence using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version (20.0).

Results: The expression of Bcl-2 revealed the high frequency of tumors with free margin was in the mild score and the high frequency of tumor with neural invasion was in the moderate score. Additionally, the distribution of the location and type elements along with interesting comparisons was provided. The neural invasion group’s distribution of the tumor revealed high significant difference.

Conclusion: Adenoid cystic malignancy expresses antiapoptotic Bcl-2. Its expression may be useful in predicting behavior and establishing ACC-specific treatment.