title: Pleomorphic adenoma of oral minor salivary glands: An investigation of its neoplastic potential based on apoptosis, mucosecretory activity and cellular proliferation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the neoplastic potential of the PA of minor oral salivary glands measured by apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bax and p53), mucosecretory activity (MUC1), and cellular proliferation (Ki-67).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one cases of PA of the oral cavity and four controls (C) taken from normal oral minor salivary glands were analyzed using the immunohistochemistry technique. The proteins were detected utilizing a semi-quantitative method (scores) as follows: (-) negative ≤5%, (+) low 6-25%, (++) moderate 26-50% and (+++) high >50% of positive tumour cells. The apoptotic indices were evaluated by the ratio Bcl-2/Bax. Non-parametric comparison and correlation tests were used for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data showed high staining of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in both groups (PA=57.9%; C=67.7%) and a significantly lower expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax (PA=22.7%; C=97.7%) and MUC1 (PA=14%; C=82.3%) in PA than in C (p<0.001). On the other hand, a similar expression of Ki-67 and p53 proteins (≤5%) was seen in both PA and C. In PA, only 2/31 cases showed the ratio Bcl-2/Bax<1.There was no difference in cellular expression with regard to clinical variables or clinical outcome (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The neoplastic potential of PA could be associated with an imbalance in apoptotic processes and a lower index of cellular proliferation. Mucosecretory activity does not play a significant role in primary PA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jean Carlos Barbosa
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marília Oliveira
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcela Ramos Abrahão
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Carvalho
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudio Rodriguês
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Leles
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil. Electronic address: elismaur@ufg.br.
authors.forename: Elismauro Francisco
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Mendonça
mesh_terms: D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000473:pathology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
keywords: Apoptosis; Biological behaviour; Cell proliferation; Mucosecretory activity; Pleomorphic adenoma