Expression of bcl-2 and c-myc Proteins in Epidermal and Melanocytic Tumors

Oh, Young Ha; Park, Chan Kum; Lee, Jung Dal

Abstract

bcl-2 and c-myc protein expression were studied in 44 epidermal (8 seborrheic keratoses, 21 squamous cell carcinomas, and 15 basal cell carcinomas), and 26 melanocytic tumors(8 nevi, and malignant melanomas) by immunohistochemistry using the specific anti-bcl-2 and anti-c-myc monoclonal antibodies. 14 out of 15 basal cell carcinomas(BCC) (93.3%) showed expression of bcl-2 protein, 12 of which (85.7%) showed coexpression of c-myc protein. In the melanocytic tumors, 7 out of 8 nevi showed bcl-2 expression (87.5%). Five of these 7 cases (62.5%) also showed c-myc protein expression. Eight of 18 malignant melanomas(MM) (44.4%) showed expression of bcl-2 protein and 7 of these 8 cases (38.9%) also showed c-myc protein expression. All seborrheic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) were negative for bcl-2 proteins. 12 of 15 SCCs(80%) were positive for c-myc protein. In conclusion, bcl-2 and c-myc proteins were coexpressed in BCCs, nevi, and MMs. Coexpression of bcl-2 and c-myc proteins in these tumors was statistically significant(p<0.01), while no considerable differences of bcl-2 and c-myc expression were found between nevi and MMs. These results suggests that bcl-2 may cooperate with c-myc to promote tumorigenesis of BCCs, nevi, and MMs(p<0.01).