Overexpression of bcl-2 protein in synovial sarcoma: a comparative study of other soft tissue spindle cell sarcomas and an additional analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Abstract

The expression of bcl-2 protein was analyzed in 19 synovial sarcomas and 29 additional soft tissue spindle cell sarcomas as controls by the immunohistologic staining of paraffin-embedded specimens; 15 of 19 (79%) synovial sarcoma cases were positive, but all other spindle cell sarcomas were negative including 20 leiomyosarcomas, 4 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and 4 fibrosarcomas. In 4 cases of bcl-2-positive synovial sarcoma (3 biphasic and 1 focally glandular type), bcl-2 protein staining was much stronger in the spindle cells than in the epithelial cells. A fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with centromeric and whole chromosome painting probes for chromosome 18 and X was performed on 7 synovial sarcomas. The six cases of bcl-2-positive synovial sarcoma consisted of five cases with the t(X; 18) and one case with tetrasomy of chromosome 18 and X. It has been speculated that bcl-2 protein expression is caused by the 14; 18 translocation and other abnormalities of chromosome 18. This study thus showed the feasibility of such a correlation between bcl-2 protein expression and the characteristic cytogenetic abnormality in the synovial sarcoma-X; 18 translocation. In addition, bcl-2 protein also appears to be a characteristic marker of synovial sarcoma and is thus considered to be potentially useful in distinguishing synovial sarcoma from other spindle cell sarcomas.

• Authors: N Hirakawa, T Naka, I Yamamoto, T Fukuda, M Tsuneyoshi
• Journal: Human pathology (Hum Pathol) Vol. 27 Issue 10 Pg. 1060-5 (Oct 1996) ISSN: 0046-8177 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8892591 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2

Topics

• Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18
• Cytogenetics
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
• Male
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (analysis, biosynthesis)
• Sarcoma (chemistry, pathology)
• Sarcoma, Synovial (chemistry, pathology)
• Soft Tissue Neoplasms (chemistry, pathology)
• X Chromosome