title: Mel-CAM (CD146) expression in parotid mucoepidermoid carcinoma.
abstract: Mel-CAM (CD146) is a cell-cell adhesion protein found in normal and tumoral tissues. The aim of this study was to analyse Mel-CAM expression in mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), and assess its importance in prognosis and its utility in differentiating high-grade MEC from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Immunohistochemical expression of Mel-CAM in 41 parotid MEC was correlated with clinical parameters. Ten cases of oral cavity SCC were included for comparison. Mel-CAM expression was found in 92.7% of the MEC but was not expressed by the SCC. Mel-CAM expression was greater in intermediate/high grade tumors, was weaker in patients that presented local recurrence, regional and distant metastasis, but no correlation between Mel-CAM and clinical stage and survival of the patients was found. Decreased Mel-CAM expression can impair cellular contact properties, facilitating growth, cell spreading and metastasis in MEC. Mel-CAM can also be useful in differentiating high grade MEC from SCC.
authors.affiliation: Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Boulevard 28 de Setembro, no. 157, CEP: 21550-030, Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio Ramôa
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Ie-Ming
authors.initials: IeM
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Danyel Elias
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: da Cruz Perez
authors.forename: Oslei Paes
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Luiz Paulo
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kowalski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D051929:CD146 Antigen; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051929:CD146 Antigen; C497902:MCAM protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules