E-cadherin-mediated impairment increases anti-apoptotic mechanism through upregulation of Bcl-2: An immunohistochemical study in various patterns of invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Bcl-2 and E-cadherin proteins are known to be involved in the control of apoptotic cell death and invasive potential, respectively, which is an important hallmark of tumor regulation that influences their biologic behavior.

Aim: This study investigates the relationship of Bcl-2 and E-cadherin immunoexpression in various Bryne's patterns of invasion.

Material and methods: Immunohistochemical analyses for Bcl-2 and E-cadherin were performed on paraffin-embedded tissue sections on 40 cases (32 cases of Oral squamous cell carcinoma and eight cases of controls) and were scored using qualitative and quantitative (percentage positive) analysis.

Statistical analysis: The resulting data were analyzed using SPSS software version 19. Correlation between patterns of invasion and qualitative scores of Bcl-2 and E-cadherin was calculated using Spearman rho correlation. Difference of mean percentage of positive cells of Bcl-2 and E-cadherin in different patterns of invasion was tested by ANOVA followed by Tukey HSD test.

Results: Bcl-2 and E-cadherin immunoreactivity was positively correlated with Bryne's pattern of invasion (P value<.05). An inverse relation was found between Bcl-2 and E-cadherin expression with Bryne's patterns 1-5 of invasion.

Conclusions: The results pointed to the antagonistic role of E-cadherin and Bcl-2 and thus provide the opportunity for cell survival along with increased invasive potential.