OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between P16 gene (the tumor suppressor gene) and the bcl-2 gene (the apoptosis inhibitor gene) and the incidence and development of malignant eyelid tumors.

METHODSThe streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex immunohistochemistry method was used to study the expression of P16 gene and the bcl-2 gene in 96 cases of malignant eyelid tumors.

RESULTSAmong the 96 cases, there were 40 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), 33 squamous carcinomas and 23 sebaceous carcinoma, with P16 protein positive (nuclear staining) rates 70%, 54.6% and 56.5%, respectively. The P16 positive rate was negatively correlated with the degree of tumor histological differentiation, and the rate difference between the high differentiated carcinomas was significant (P < 0.05). Positive Bcl-2 protein expression was detected in the cytoplasm. All 40 BCC cases were Bcl-2 positive, and nearly all of the tumor cells showed positive cytoplasmic expression, while in the 33 squamous cell carcinoma cases only one showed positive focal reaction, and the staining in the other 32 cases was relatively faint. None of the 23 sebaceous carcinomas expressed Bcl-2.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of the P16 protein was related to the occurrence and degree of differentiation of malignant eyelid tumors. The overexpression of the Bcl-2 protein suggests that suppression of apoptosis might play a role in the tumorigenesis of BCC.