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Updated: Apr 12, 2026
Long-term Intravital Immunofluorescence Imaging of Tissue Matrix Components with Epifluorescence and Two-photon Microscopy
Published on: April 22, 2014
Evaluation and characterization of the extracellular matrix in salivary gland tumors through histochemistry and
Maria Clara Falcão Ribeiro-de-Assis1, Luccas Lavareze1, Antonio Thiago Pereira Campos2
1Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
Objective:
To describe extracellular matrix (ECM) components in salivary gland tumors with and without myoepithelial differentiation.
Design:
Five cases of each tumor type were analyzed: pleomorphic adenoma, myoepithelioma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, myoepithelial carcinoma, epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, and salivary duct carcinoma. Histochemical stains identified collagen fibers, elastin, proteoglycans (PG), and glycosaminoglycans (GAG). Collagen was further examined by second harmonic generation (SHG) in three regions: tumor stroma, extratumoral stroma, and capsule. ImageJ was used to analyze area fraction, mean gray level, entropy, and contrast. Data underwent statistical analysis (p < 0.0001).
Results:
ECM composition varied among salivary gland tumors. Pleomorphic adenoma showed low elastin and collagen, but PG and GAG were present in over 50 % of cases. Myoepithelioma showed variable collagen and elastin, while adenoid cystic carcinoma had predominant collagen. Myoepithelial carcinoma presented inconsistent elastin and low collagen. Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma and salivary duct carcinoma showed intense collagen staining. SHG revealed higher area fraction and gray level in the extratumoral region. Entropy was significantly higher outside the tumor. Malignant tumors with myoepithelial differentiation showed increased values in all SHG parameters compared to benign counterparts.
Conclusions:
Benign tumors expressed more PG and GAG, whereas malignant ones had increased collagen with structural alterations. SHG analysis indicated lower collagen intensity within tumors and highlighted the role of ECM remodeling in malignancy, invasion, and metastasis.
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