title: Expression of epidermal growth factor in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.
abstract: This study used an immunohistochemical technique to assess the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in 40 specimens of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), 7 specimens of labial glands adjacent to mucocele, and 5 specimens of normal submandibular glands. In normal submandibular glands, immunohistochemically detectable EGF was demonstrated in all ductal segments, including intercalated, striated, and excretory duct cells. No EGF positive staining was found in acinar compartments. including serous and mucous acinar cells. In degenerated labial glands adjacent to mucocele, no EGF staining was detected in the remaining acinar and ductal cells. In salivary ACCs, positive EGF immunostaining was observed in one of the 5 (20%) ACCs with a solid pattern and in 13 of the 35 (37.1%) ACCs with a tubular-cribriform pattern. The overall EGF expression rate in 40 salivary ACCs was 35%. Positive EGF staining was predominantly found in tubular structures in the tubular ACCs and in duct-like structures in large cribriform patterns or in the stroma of the cribriform ACCs. There was no significant correlation between EGF expression in salivary ACCs and any of the clinicopathological parameters including patient age and sex, cancer location, TNM status, clinical stage, histologic type, perivascular or perineural invasion, focal necrosis of tumor, and cellular atypia. We conclude that the duct segments of the normal submandibular gland are the sites of EGF synthesis and secretion. In degenerated labial glands adjacent to mucocele, EGF synthesis is completely inhibited. Furthermore, EGF is mainly biosynthesized in cells forming tubular or duct-like structures in tubular or cribriform salivary ACCs, and EGF may play a biologic role, particularly as a mitogen in salivary ACC growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: B Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Leu
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000378:metabolism*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor