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Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Radiation Treatment of Organotypic Cultures from Submandibular and Parotid Salivary Glands Models Key In Vivo Characteristics
Published on: May 17, 2019
Transcription factor early growth response-1 plays an oncogenic role in salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma
Shukun Shen1, Yun Zhu1, Hao Lu1
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 639, Zhizaoju Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.
Objectives:
Although abnormal expression of early growth response-1 (Egr1) has been revealed in various human solid tumors, the functions and potential mechanisms of Egr1 in the progression of salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma (SGPA) are not entirely understood.
Results:
An elevated expression of Egr1 was observed both in the human salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma tissues and tumor-initiating cell (TIC) cells, when compared with control group. By loss-of-function assay, the proliferation and invasion capacities of TICs were inhibited, while the cell apoptosis was promoted, which were further evidenced by the protein expression analysis of several key apoptosis-related regulators. Furthermore, TICs with Mithramycin A (an Egr1 inhibitor) treatment achieved the same effects of endogenous Egr1 knockdown.
Conclusions:
All these data collectively suggest that Egr1 act as an oncogenic factor in salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma, which may be a potential target for the treatment of SGPA.
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