title: EphA2/ephrinA1 mRNA expression and protein production in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  EphA2/ephrinA1 is believed to play a role in tumor growth and metastasis. The purpose of the present study was to determine the presence of EphA2/ephrinA1 in mRNA and protein adenoid cystic carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  mRNA and protein expression and protein product of EphA2 and ephrinA1 in adenoid cystic carcinoma was investigated using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The tyrosine-phosphorylated state of EphA2 in adenoid cystic carcinoma cells was also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater expression of EphA2 and ephrinA1 proteins and mRNA was detected in adenoid cystic carcinoma tissues. EphA2/ephrinA1 staining activities in adenoid cystic carcinoma were more significant than those in normal gland tissue (P < .01). EphA2/ephrinA1 expression correlated significantly to the microvessel density (P < .01). EphA2/ephrinA1 expression and microvessel density correlated with the clinical TNM stage, perineural invasion, and vascular invasion (P < .05). In 3 histologic types of adenoid cystic carcinoma, the expression of EphA2/ephrinA1 and microvessel density was significantly greater in the solid type than in the cribriform and tubular types (P < .01). We also noted that EphA2 was present in a nontyrosine-phosphorylated state.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed a high expression of EphA2/ephrinA1 in adenoid cystic carcinoma. EphA2/ephrinA1 can serve as a novel therapy target for adenoid cystic carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hanzhong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhengjun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shang
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D036382:Ephrin-A1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D036104:Receptor, EphA2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D036382:Ephrin-A1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D036104:Receptor, EphA2