title: NCAM (CD56) expression in keratin-producing odontogenic cysts: aberrant expression in KCOT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate immunohistochemically the expression of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), which has been identified as a signaling receptor with frequent reactivity in ameloblastomas (AB), in a series of keratin-producing odontogenic cysts (KPOCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical expression of NCAM, using a monoclonal antibody, was determined in a series of 58 KPOCs comprising 12 orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts (OOCs) and 46 keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs), corresponding to 40 non-syndromic KCOT (NS-KCOTs) and 6 syndromic KCOT (S-KCOTs), associated with nevic basocellular syndrome (NBCS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  NCAM expression was negative in all OOCs, but 36.45% of KCOTs exhibited focal and heterogeneous expression at the basal cell level, as well as in basal budding areas and the basal cells of daughter cysts. The latter two locations were especially applicable to S-KCOTs, with focal NCAM reactivity occurring in 66.66% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aberrant NCAM expression, in KCOTs but especially in S-KCOTs, together with its immunomorphological location, suggests that this adhesion molecule and signaling receptor plays a role in the pathogenesis of KCOTs, with a probable impact on lesional recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Departaments of Stomatology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. beavesi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vera-Sirera
authors.affiliation: Departaments of Stomatology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Leopoldo.Forner@uv.es.
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forner-Navarro
authors.affiliation: Departaments of Pathology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. fco.jose.vera@uv.es.|Service of Pathology, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Avda Campanar 21, Valencia, 46009, Spain. fco.jose.vera@uv.es.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vera-Sempere
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics*; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007633:Keratins