Bcl2 and Bax Expression in Naevi and Melanomas and their Relation to Ploidy Status and Proliferation

1)Department of Cytopathology,
2)Center of Pathology, Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany
3)Chair and Department of Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

Abstract

Twenty-five naevi, 53 primary melanomas, 36 melanoma metastases were stained immunohistochemically for the presence of Bcl2, Bax and Ki-67 antigen in order to define the relation between apoptosis regulators and proliferative activity. Additionally, ploidy status and S- phase were measured. Bax demonstrated a tendency to increase and Bcl2 was decreasing along with melanoma progression. In the group of euploid cases Bcl2 showed a strong significant correlation with Bax expression (p=0.0001) and both Bcl2 and Bax correlated with Ki-67 expression and S-phase. In the group of aneuploid cases only the correlation Bcl2-Ki-67 was preserved. Others did not reach the level of statistical significance.

Address for correspondence and reprint requests to:
M. Korabiowska M. D.,
Department of Cytopathology, Georg August University,
Robert Koch str 40, 37075 Goettingen, Germany.
Phone 0049551 1396867.