EXPRESSION OF BCL-2 ONCOPROTEIN IN INDIAN ORAL SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMAS

Thirty-nine oral squamous cell carcinomas were assessed for bcl-2 prot ein expression by immunostaining of tumour sections. Twenty-three per cent of these tumours showed strong nuclear staining for bcl-2 protein . Tumours of the cheek and tongue together accounted for 77% of overex pression of this protein. When bcl-2 expression was compared with p53 expression, they were found to be non-overlapping. These results sugge st that overexpression of either of these genes may substitute each ot her in the development of oral carcinomas of Indians. (C) 1998 Elsevie r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.