title: Expression of astrocyte elevated gene-1 protein in ameloblastomas, keratocystic odontogenic tumors, and dentigerous cysts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Benign epithelial odontogenic tumors such as ameloblastoma and keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) may exhibit an aggressive clinical course reminiscent of malignancies. Recent studies have indicated that astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is highly expressed in a variety of malignant neoplasms and its overexpression is associated with tumor invasion, metastasis, and poor survival. However, the role of AEG-1 in odontogenic tumors and cysts is still undiscovered.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical staining of AEG-1 was performed in 42 cases of ameloblastoma, 29 cases of KCOT, and 19 cases of dentigerous cyst. Correlations between AEG-1 expression and clinical parameters of ameloblastomas or KCOTs were statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AEG-1-positive staining was found in 37 (88%) of 42 ameloblastomas and in 24 (83%) of 29 KCOTs. None of 19 dentigerous cysts were positive for AEG-1 protein. For ameloblastomas, AEG-1 protein expression was significantly higher in ameloblast-like cells than in stellate reticulum-like cells (P = 0.003). For KCOTs, AEG-1 protein was diffusely expressed in all lining epithelial cells except the superficial parakeratinized cells. Moreover, the frequency of cortical plate perforation was significantly higher in ameloblastomas with high AEG-1 expression than in ameloblastomas with low or negative AEG-1 expression (P = 0.043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significantly higher expression of AEG-1 protein in ameloblastomas and KCOTs than in dentigerous cysts and significantly greater frequency of cortical plate perforation in high AEG-1-expressed ameloblastomas than in low or negative AEG-1-expressed ameloblastomas may imply the high potential of AEG-1 to serve as a locally invasive biomarker and a target for novel therapy.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry and Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Hsueh
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry and Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Faculty of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Julia Yu-Fong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry and Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Huang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry and Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Faculty of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Pin
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry and Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Faculty of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D003803:Dentigerous Cyst / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C483039:MTDH protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins
keywords: ameloblastoma; astrocyte elevated gene-1; dentigerous cyst; immunohistochemistry; keratocystic odontogenic tumor