[Apoptosis-antagonizing protein Bcl-2 expression, distribution in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE

Apoptosis-antagonizing protein Bcl-2 expression, distribution in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and its clinical significance were studied.

METHODS

Four-stage peroxidase antiperoxidase complex (PAP) method was applied to comparatively investigate the expression and distribution of Bcl-2 protein in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lymph node tissue comprising 12 cases of reactive follicular hyperplasia and 71 cases of NHL.

RESULTS

(1) Bcl-2 protein was detected in 93.0% cases of NHL with T- or B-lymphocytic phenotype. (2) Bcl-2 protein was restricted in centrocytes but not in centroblasts in 8 of 9 cases of NHL stemed from germinal centers. (3) A significant increase in Bcl-2 protein expression was found in 5 of 10 cases of diffuse large B-lymphocytic NHL showing plasmacytoid differentiation. (4) In 7 cases of follicular NHL the neoplastic nodules were strongly labeled for Bcl-2 protein and only scattered positive cells were seen in its periphery; On the contrary, in reactive lymphoid follicles Bcl-2 protein was predominantly anchored in mantle zones whereas germinal center cells were unstained.

CONCLUSION

(1) Bcl-2 protein is expressed in NHL of T- or B-cell origin. (2) Bcl-2 protein expression appears to be associated with differentiation stages of NHL. (3) Immunohistochemical staining for Bcl-2 protein conduces to differentiate between reactive and neoplastic follicles.