Abstract:Objective To investigate the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 and apoptotic index (AI) in breast invasive ductal cancer between different ethnic groups, and to analyze their correlations with clinicopathological characteristics. Methods The expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 in breast invasive ductal cancers of 60 cases each of Tibetan and ethnic Han were examined with immunohistochemical stain in histopathologic slides. AI was detected by TUNEL method. Results The positive expression rates of Bcl-2 in breast invasive ductal cancer of Tibetan and ethnic Han were 52.2% and 38.3% respectively (P > 0.05); the positive expression rates of Bax were 76.7% and 61.7% respectively (P > 0.05); the positive expression rates of Caspase-3 were 60.0% and 58.3% respectively (P > 0.05); the AI was 61.2% and 60% respectively (P > 0.05). Conclusions The positive expression rates of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 of breast invasive ductal cancers between Tibetan and ethnic Han demonstrate no statistically difference, and AI didn’t show any difference either.