Low Expression of the bcl2 Gene in Gastric Adenocarcinomas in Mazandaran Province of Iran

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Gastric cancer accounts for about 8% of the total cancer cases and 10% of total cancer deathsworldwide. It is the second lethal cancer after esophageal cancer and is considered the fourth most commoncancer in north and northwest Iran. The bcl2 family has a key role in the regulation of apoptosis and change inits expression can contribute to cancer. This study initially scheduled to determine the expression of bcl2 genein tissue samples of adenocarcinoma cancer patients. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: A total of 10 samples of gastricadenocarcinoma and 10 of normal tissues from Sari hospital were selected and after DNA extraction fromtissues, bcl2 gene expression assayed by real-time PCR. <br/><b>Results</b>: Our results demonstrated higher expression ofthe bcl2 gene in control compared with cancer and marginal cancer tissues. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: On one hand BCL2plays an important role as an oncogene to inhibit apoptosis; on the other hand, it can initiate cell cycle arrestat G0 stage. Our observed association between its expression and patient survival is quite conflicting and maybe tissue-specific. The data suggest expression both tumoural and non-tumoral(marginal) groups have loweredexpression than controls (P>0.05). Due to the low number of samples we could not examine the relationship withclinicopathological features. However, bcl-2 expression may be important for prognostic outcome or a usefultarget for therapeutic intervention.