Squamous odontogenic tumor of the mandible: a case report demonstrating immunoexpression of Notch1, 3, 4, Jagged1 and Delta1.
BACKGROUND
Squamous odontogenic tumor (SOT) is a rare benign odontogenic epithelial neoplasm. A slow-growing painless expansive swelling is the common presenting symptom. Histopathologically, SOT can be easily misdiagnosed as an acanthomatous ameloblastoma. Although Notch receptors and ligands have been shown to play a role in cell fate decisions in ameloblastomas, the role of these cell signaling molecules in SOT is unknown.


METHODS
This paper describes a case of SOT affecting the anterior mandible of a 10-year-old Indian female. The patient was treated by local surgical excision and there has been no follow-up clinical record of recurrence 5 years after primary treatment. Histo?pathological examination revealed a solid, locally-infiltrative neoplasm composed of bland-looking squamatoid islands scattered in a mature fibrous connective tissue stroma and the diagnosis was SOT. Immunohistochemical evaluation showed positive reactivity of varying intensity in the neoplastic epithelial cells for Notch1, Notch3, Notch4, and their ligands Jagged1 and Delta1. Expression patterns showed considerable overlap. No immunoreactivity was detected for Notch2 and Jagged2.


CONCLUSIONS
Present findings suggest that Notch receptors and their ligands play differential roles in the cytodifferentiation of SOT.
Siar
C H
CH
Department of Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Nakano
Keisuke
K
Ng
K H
KH
Tomida
M
M
Nagatsuka
H
H
Kawakami
T
T
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051527:Odontogenic Tumor, Squamous / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051881:Receptor, Notch1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071656:Receptor, Notch3; D000074562:Receptor, Notch4; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C000606273:JAG1 protein, human; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C497761:NOTCH1 protein, human; C499374:NOTCH3 protein, human; C106075:NOTCH4 protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D000071656:Receptor, Notch3; D000074562:Receptor, Notch4; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins; C064045:delta protein