Detection of Bcl-2 translocation in pancreatic cancer in Iranian patients

Background and Pancreatic cancer is one of the most leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Considering the role of Bcl-2 family gene in apoptosis that are known to be over-expressed in most cancers, this study focused on the detection of Bcl-2 translocation t(14;18) to the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) that may contribute to the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer.
Forty-nine samples of paraffin embedded tissues (extracted from 1537 slides of 105 patients in one of the major local cancer centers) were investigated for detection of Bcl-2 translocation t(14;18) by standard PCR.
The Bcl-2 t(14;18) translocation was detected in 23 of all 49 patients (46.9%), including 10 of 23 translocated patients (43%) with break points within the mbr cluster, 11 with involvement of the mcr locus (48%), and 2 in the icr locus (9%).
Detection of Bcl2 translocation in pancreatic cancer is in agreement with results from other studies, and shows this rearrangement could be considered as a new treatment strategy based on apoptosis or personalized treatment.