DNA flow cytometry and glial fibrillary acidic protein reactivity in pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary glands.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and correlate morphologic features, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) reactivity and DNA content parameters in 32 pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary glands.


METHODS
The adenomas were subclassified according to the proportion of stroma and type of stromal differentiation. DNA flow cytometry was carried out on paraffin-embedded material. GFAP reactivity was determined immunohistochemically and evaluated as the percentage of positive cells. Follow-up ranged from 17 to 71 months; no recurrences were observed.


RESULTS
Seven cases were aneuploid, 10 peridiploid and 15 diploid. Nondiploid tumors had a significantly higher S-phase fraction. Nondiploid adenomas were significantly associated with a greater percentage of stroma, while S-phase fraction showed only a trend toward being higher in tumors with a greater quota of stroma. Ploidy type and S-phase fraction were unrelated to sex, age, tumor diameter or site. GFAP reactivity was unrelated to subtype or S-phase fraction; a higher frequency of diploid tumors was seen among cases with a greater number of reactive cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Aneuploidy is present in a significant percentage of typical cases. It is unrelated to tumor bulk and appears to have no effect on recurrence as long as surgical excision is complete.
Institute of Pathological Anatomy and Histopathology, School of Medicine, University of Udine, Italy.
L
L
Desinan
C A
CA
Scott
S
S
Pizzolitto
C
C
Avellini
P
P
Bardus
G
G
Rimondi
V
V
Rizzi
C A
CA
Beltrami
D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011003:Ploidies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016196:S Phase; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D012737:Sex Factors
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D004247:DNA