An insight into immunohistochemical expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) in uterine leiomyoma and its clinicopathological correlation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Context: Uterine leiomyomas are mesenchymal tumours composed of smooth muscle cells. They are associated with significant morbidity in women of reproductive age group. Anti-apoptotic genes such as B-cell lymphoma (BCL)-2 may participate in the differentiation, growth and maintenance of leiomyomas. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the possible correlation between the expression of BCL-2 antigens in uterine leiomyomas and its correlation with its clinical features. Settings and Design: This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional retrospective study of histologically diagnosed leiomyoma in a teaching hospital between January 2012 and December 2016. Materials and Methods: A total of 151 cases of uterine leiomyomas were semi-quantitatively analysed immunohistochemically for BCL-2. Variables such as age and common symptoms of leiomyomas were extracted from patients’ records. Statistical Analysis Used: Data obtained were analysed using both Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 23.0 (SPSS version 23.0). Results: There are 151 cases of uterine leiomyomas; 81 (53.6%) were immunostained positively for BCL-2, while the remaining 70 (46.4%) cases were immunostained negatively. There was a statistically significant association between the age of the patient and immunohistochemical expression for BCL-2 with P < 0.05. Conclusions: This study shows that BCL-2 antigens may contribute to the growth of uterine leiomyoma. It is clinical relevance, and prognostic value requires further comprehensive study with adequate follow-up and validation.