Apoptotic signaling in salivary mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Gabriela M da Silva1, Victoria Saavedra1, Renata C F Ianez1
1International Research Center, A.C.Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil.
Background:
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of salivary glands. Apoptosis plays an important role in organogenesis of glandular structures, and aberrations of apoptotic mechanisms is associated with a wide array of pathologic conditions.
Methods:
The immunoexpression of proteins associated with apoptosis and proliferation was evaluated in 40 mucoepidermoid carcinoma cases.
Results:
Par-4, Survivin, MUC1, PHLDA1, Fas, and Ki-67 were predominantly expressed in mucoepidermoid carcinoma. FasL was rarely expressed, and Caspase-3 expression was observed in almost 50% of the cases. SPARC expression was associated with low-grade tumors, and Ki-67 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis. Expression of Fas and decreased expression of Ki-67 and Caspase-3 were associated with better overall cancer-specific survival rates.
Conclusions:
The association of SPARC and Ki-67 expression with pathological features and the association of Fas, Caspase-3, and Ki-67 with survival probabilities suggest that these proteins may be useful prognostic markers for mucoepidermoid carcinoma.
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