Role of immunomarkers in the clinicopathological analysis of unicystic ameloblastoma.
OBJECTIVE
The clinical behavior of unicystic ameloblastoma varies according to its subtype. The assessment of its proliferative capacity, neovascularization, and invasiveness using relevant immunomarkers may aid in appropriate surgical therapeutic protocol.


METHODS
18 cases of clinically and histologically confirmed unicystic ameloblastoma, categorized as luminal, intraluminal, or mural subtypes, were analyzed retrospectively. Immunomarkers such as Ki-67, CD34, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were studied to evaluate their behavior.


RESULTS
Labeling index of Ki-67 was 4.25% in the intraluminal subtype, compared with 2.14% in the luminal and 4.04% in the mural variant (P = 0.3). CD34 immunostaining was significantly higher in the mural variant (43 per high power field) than the other two subtypes (P = 0.04). MMP-2 and MMP-9 were strongly expressed in mural, moderately in intraluminal, and weakly to absent in luminal variant.


CONCLUSIONS
High proliferative index, angiogenesis, and protease activity in the mural ameloblastoma, ascertained by the expression of these markers, confirm its aggressive phenotype. The intraluminal and luminal subtype exhibiting decreased expression are compatible with their indolent clinical behavior.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India.
Parul
P
Sah
Aparna
A
Menon
Asha
A
Kamath
Chetana
C
Chandrashekar
Sunitha
S
Carnelio
Raghu
R
Radhakrishnan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011859:Radiography
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9