Maspin expression in normal and neoplastic salivary gland.
BACKGROUND
Maspin inhibits cell motility, invasion and metastasis. Loss or reduction in maspin expression has been associated with tumoral progression.


METHODS
The presence of maspin was studied immunohistochemically in salivary gland tumours presenting cells with myoepithelial differentiation in their composition, and in normal salivary gland.


RESULTS
Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) presented high expression of maspin, except in the spindle cells and occasional luminal cells. Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma and tubular adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) showed intense expression in all cells. Cribriform ACC evidenced only few positive cells of the luminal type, while solid subtype showed rare positive cells. Normal salivary gland tissue has shown low levels of maspin positivity.


CONCLUSIONS
Maspin has small participation in normal salivary gland, is increased in PA, and decreases as the histological malignancy raises. Hence, in salivary gland, its expression is not exclusive of myoepithelial cells; thus, it should not be used as a marker for this cell. Nevertheless, we believe it is an important marker of biological behaviour in these tumours.
Navarro
Ricardo de Lima
Rde L
Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Martins
Marília Trierveiler
MT
de Araújo
Vera Cavalcanti
VC
D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000201:enzymology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology*; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000201:enzymology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000201:enzymology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000201:enzymology*; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015843:Serpins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011506:Proteins; C085344:SERPIN-B5; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D015843:Serpins