Pleomorphic adenoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands: E-cadherin immunoexpression and analysis of the CDH1 -160C/A polymorphism.
OBJECTIVE
Despite their similar cellular origin, pleomorphic adenomas (PA) and adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) present distinct behaviors. This study aimed to analyze the immunoexpression of E-cadherin in PA and ACC of salivary glands, and to investigate differences in its expression in relation to E-cadherin gene (CDH1) -160C/A polymorphism.


METHODS
Twenty-four PA (15 cell-rich and 9 cell-poor tumors) and 24 ACC (10 tubular, 8 cribriform and 6 solid tumors) were selected for the analysis of pattern of distribution, and cellular localization of E-cadherin. In addition, E-cadherin expression was evaluated using the H-score scoring system. The CDH1 -160C/A polymorphism was investigated by PCR-RFLP.


RESULTS
No significant differences in pattern of distribution (p=0.181) and cellular localization (p=0.192) of E-cadherin were observed between PA and ACC. Comparison of PA and ACC cases revealed a higher median H-score in the latter (p=0.036). Cell-rich PA presented a higher H-score than cell-poor tumors (p=0.013), whereas no significant differences in E-cadherin expression were observed between ACC subtypes (p=0.254). The heterozygous genotype of the CDH1 -160C/A polymorphism was detected in only one PA and one ACC. H-scores for tumors carrying the polymorphism were below the lower quartile of their respective groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that E-cadherin expression in PA and ACC is mainly related to cellular composition (epithelial cells versus myoepithelial cells) and degree of differentiation of myoepithelial cells in these tumors. The CDH1 -160C/A polymorphism does not seem to significantly influence the expression of E-cadherin in PA and ACC of salivary glands.
Department of Oral Pathology, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
Roberta Barroso
RB
Cavalcante
Department of Dentistry, State University of Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Cassiano Francisco Weege
CF
Nonaka
Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
Silvia Helena Barem
SH
Rabenhorst
Department of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Márcia Cristina
MC
da Costa Miguel
Department of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Leão Pereira
LP
Pinto
Department of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil. Electronic address: leliabsouza@gmail.com.
Lélia Batista
LB
de Souza
D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D015703:Antigens, CD; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins
Adenoid cystic carcinoma; CDH1 gene; E-Cadherin; Pleomorphic adenoma; Polymorphism