title: Expression of the transcription factor PITX2 in ameloblastic carcinoma.
abstract: Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare odontogenic tumour that combines the histological features of ameloblastoma with cytological atypia. Until 2005, the incidence of ameloblastic carcinoma was unknown, and since then, fewer than 60 cases have been reported. These tumours may originate from pre-existing tumours or cysts, or they arise de novo from the activation or transformation of embryological cells. PITX2 is a transcription factor that is a product and regulator of the WNT cell signalling pathway, which has been involved in development of several tumours. To analyse whether PITX2 could be involved in the biological behaviour of ameloblastic carcinoma, we analysed the expression of this transcription factor in a sample of this tumour and nine benign ameloblastomas to compare. The results of Western blotting and RT-PCR analyses were positive, and considering the hundreds of genes that PITX2 regulates, we believe that its expression could be intimately linked to the behaviour of ameloblastic carcinoma and possibly other odontogenic lesions.
authors: School of Dentistry, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango, Mexico; Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, CINVESTAV-IPN, México, D.F., Mexico.
authors: Alejandro
authors: A
authors: García-Muñoz
authors: Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, CINVESTAV-IPN, México, D.F., Mexico.
authors: Mario A
authors: MA
authors: Rodríguez
authors: Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Hospital Juárez de México, México, D.F., Mexico.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Licéaga-Escalera
authors: Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Hospital Juárez de México, México, D.F., Mexico.
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: Licéaga-Reyes
authors: School of Dentistry, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango, Mexico.
authors: Ramón Gil
authors: RG
authors: Carreón-Burciaga
authors: School of Dentistry, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango, Mexico.
authors: Rogelio
authors: R
authors: González-González
authors: School of Dentistry, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango, Mexico; Molecular Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: ronellbologna@hotmail.com.
authors: Ronell
authors: R
authors: Bologna-Molina
mesh_terms: D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097577:Homeobox Protein PITX2
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000097577:Homeobox Protein PITX2
keywords: Ameloblastic carcinoma; Ameloblastoma; Odontogenesis; PITX2; Transcription factor; WNT cell signalling pathway