BCL-2 Protein Expression in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Association with Age and Histopathological Features in Uganda

Authors

  • Gladys Adokorach Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Bukirwa Phiona Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Andrew Livex Okwi Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Musoke Sharrif Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Ojok peter Boii Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Nsobya George Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Oballim John Kenned Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Manirakiza Robert Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Kirabira Martha Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Boaz Mwesigwa Department of Pathology, Mulago National Referral Hospital, P.O.Box 7051, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Nyakato Veronica Department of Pathology, Uganda Cancer Institute, P.O.Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Waiswa Ali Department of Pathology, Uganda Cancer Institute, P.O.Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Mawanda Anatoli Department of Pathology, Uganda Cancer Institute, P.O.Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Tonny Okecha Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda Author
  • Kalungi Sam Department of Pathology, Mulago National Referral Hospital, P.O.Box 7051, Kampala, Uganda Author

Keywords:

BCL-2 Protein Expression, Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC), Histopathological Features

Abstract

Background: Globally, ovarian cancer accounted for 314,000 new cases and 207,000 deaths in 2020. In Uganda, 626 cases were documented over 25 years, with an average incidence rate of 7.1 per 100,000 women. Epithelial ovarian carcinoma is the predominant subtype, and BCL-2, a 26-kDa anti-apoptotic protein, has been associated with chemotherapy resistance. However, no study has assessed BCL-2 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer in Uganda.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of BCL-2 protein expression in epithelial ovarian cancer and its association with age and histopathological features in Uganda.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using randomly sampled archived tissue blocks from 113 patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer. Samples underwent hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining to evaluate BCL-2 expression.

Results: The mean patient age was 55 years, with the largest proportion (36.3%) aged 50–59 years. BCL-2 expression was observed in 36.3% of cases. There was no statistically significant association between BCL-2 expression and age (p = 0.396), histological subtype (p = 0.520), or tumor grade (p = 0.833). High-grade serous carcinoma was the predominant histological subtype (46%), and well-differentiated carcinoma was the most common grade (53%).

Conclusion: BCL-2 expression was prevalent in epithelial ovarian cancer in Uganda but showed no significant association with age, histological grade, or subtype. These findings underscored the need for further research to explore the prognostic and therapeutic implications of BCL-2 in ovarian cancer management.

Author Biographies

  • Gladys Adokorach, Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

    Gladys Adokorach, St Mary’s Hospital Lacor, P.O. Box 180, Gulu, Uganda

  • Bukirwa Phiona, Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

    Bukirwa Phiona 
    Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

  • Andrew Livex Okwi, Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

    Andrew Livex Okwi Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

  • Musoke Sharrif, Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

    Musoke Sharrif Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

  • Ojok peter Boii, Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

    Ojok peter Boii Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

  • Nsobya George, Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

     Nsobya George

  • Oballim John Kenned, Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

    Oballim John Kenned

  • Manirakiza Robert, Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

    Manirakiza

  • Kirabira Martha, Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

     Kirabira Martha

  • Boaz Mwesigwa, Department of Pathology, Mulago National Referral Hospital, P.O.Box 7051, Kampala, Uganda

    Boaz Mwesigwa

  • Nyakato Veronica, Department of Pathology, Uganda Cancer Institute, P.O.Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda


    Nyakato Veronica

  • Waiswa Ali, Department of Pathology, Uganda Cancer Institute, P.O.Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda

     Waiswa Ali

  • Mawanda Anatoli, Department of Pathology, Uganda Cancer Institute, P.O.Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda

    Mawanda Anatoli

  • Tonny Okecha, Department of Pathology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda

    Tonny Okecha

  • Kalungi Sam, Department of Pathology, Mulago National Referral Hospital, P.O.Box 7051, Kampala, Uganda

    Kalungi Sam Department of Pathology, Mulago National Referral Hospital, P.O.Box 7051, Kampala, Uganda 

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Published

2024-12-23

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2024): Volume 3 Issue 1

Section

Articles