title: P63 expression in papillary cystadenoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma of minor salivary glands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of p63 protein in mucoepidermoid carcinoma and papillary cystadenoma of the salivary glands, and to evaluate the usefulness of this protein in distinguishing these tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunoexpression of p63 protein was studied and quantified in 9 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded mucous retention cysts, 4 papillary cystadenomas, and 19 low-grade and 9 high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cases were positive for p63 immunoexpression; however, it was observed that p63 labeling in mucous retention cysts and papillary cystadenomas was limited to the basal layers of the cystic spaces, whereas in low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas, positive nuclear staining was also found diffusely in the suprabasal layers. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma presented increased immunoexpression of p63 compared with the other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  P63 immunohistochemical expression pattern can be helpful in distinguishing low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma from papillary cystadenoma of the salivary glands.
authors.affiliation: Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe Paiva
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Bruno Augusto Benevenuto
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Márcio Ajudarte
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Hélder Antônio Rebelo
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pontes
authors.forename: Pablo Agustin
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Oslei Paes
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: de Almeida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018292:Cystadenoma, Papillary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000473:pathology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C115051:TP63 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins