Prognostic significance of Bcl-2 expression in primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma: a reappraisal

INTRODUCTION: Bcl-2 family protein plays an important role in apoptosis and its overexpression is protects neoplastic cell from apoptotic stimuli. Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma are rare non-Hodgkin lymphomas and can be classified in primary forms, featuring an exclusive skin-involvement at diagnosis, and cutaneous spread of a nodal disease. Such a distinction is not trivial, owing to different prognosis (indolent vs. aggressive) and therapeutic management.EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Bcl-2 expression at immunohistochemistry can be crucial in differential diagnosis between cutaneous and systemic disease, as well as between the different primary cutaneous forms.EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: In the last few years, an animated debate on the prognostic role of BCL-2 overexpression at molecular analysis have been developed in cutaneous B-cell lymphoma.CONCLUSIONS: Bcl-2 expression have a diagnostic role more than prognostic in primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas.