The significance of Bcl-2 expression in breast cancer: a 10-year follow-up study

Introduction: To investigate the correlation between the positive expression of Bcl-2 and the clinical characteristics of breast cancer patients.Methods: A total of 124 patients with breast cancer were enrolled in the study.The relationship between the positive expression of Bcl-2 and the clinical characteristics [age, maximum tumor diameter, axillary lymphnode metastasis, clinical stage, histological grade, estrogen receptor (ER), progestogen receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and Ki-67] in breast cancer patients was analysed.All the patients with 10-year follow-up information were analysed, and the logistic regression analysis and multivariable COX analyses was regression are utilized to screen for risk factors associated with positive Bcl-2 expression.Results: (1) The positive expression rate of Bcl-2 differed significantly among breast cancer patients with different clinical stage and histological grade, while breast cancer patients with different maximum tumor diameter had varied Bcl-2 positive expression rate, with statistical significance (P<0.05);(2) the positive expression rate of Bcl-2 among patients with negative axillary lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that of those with positive axillary lymph node metastasis (P<0.05);(3) the positive expression rate of Bcl-2 among luminal typle breast cancer patients was significantly higher than that in Tripple negative breast cancer and Her-2 positive breast cancer patients.(P<0.05);(4) Frome the 5-year and 10-year follow-up information of all the patients, Bcl-2 positive breast cancer patients have significantly better prognosis than those of Bcl-2 negative breast cancer patients.With the extension of follow-up time, the prognosis of Bcl-2 positive patients is further improved; (5) Multivariable COX analyses were regression indicated that the independent risk factors for 10 years overall survival were axillary lymph node metastasis, Positive expression of Bcl-2 is a good prognostic factor, but there are not enough data to show that Bcl-2 is an independent risk factor for breast cancer.Conclusion: There was a suggestion of a strong protective effect of Bcl-2 positive expression patients, thus the detection of Bcl-2 is somewhat meaningful value for evaluating the medical conditions and prognosis of breast cancer patients.