Relationship between major and minor salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma malignancy grading and presence of stromal myofibroblasts: immunohistochemical study

• Published in: Journal of oral pathology & medicine 2004-07, Vol.33 (6), p.335-339
• Main Authors: Sobral, Ana Paula Veras, Loducca, Silvia Vanessa L., Nunes, Fábio Daumas, De Araújo, Ney Soares, Kowalski, Luiz Paulo, De Araújo, Vera Cavalcanti
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actins - analysis; Actins - biosynthesis; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid - chemistry; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid - metabolism; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid - pathology; Dentistry; Desmin - analysis; Desmin - biosynthesis; desmoplasia; Fibroblasts - chemistry; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Fibroblasts - pathology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Medical sciences; mucoepidermoid carcinoma; myofibroblast; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; Neoplasm Proteins - biosynthesis; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Prognosis; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta - analysis; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta - biosynthesis; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - chemistry; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - metabolism; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - pathology; Stromal Cells - chemistry; Stromal Cells - metabolism; Stromal Cells - pathology; Transforming Growth Factor beta - analysis; Transforming Growth Factor beta - biosynthesis; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; transforming growth factor β; Vimentin - analysis; Vimentin - biosynthesis
• ISSN: 0904-2512; 1600-0714
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2004.00111.x

Objective:  Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant salivary tumour, classified as low, intermediate and high grade. Myofibroblasts are the main stromal component and are included as prognostic factor in some tumours. The aim of this study was to evaluate the myofibroblasts in the stroma of MEC with possible relationship to malignancy grading. Methods:  Twenty‐five cases of MEC (six low grade, 11 intermediate grade, four high grade and four metastasis) were stained for vimentin, desmin and smooth muscle actin (SMA) for the identification of myofibroblasts. Transforming growth factors (TGFβ1 and TGFβRII) were also assessed in our study. Results:  Myofibroblasts were present in all cases, in amounts varying according to histological grading. TGFβ1 was positive in squamous cells of intermediate grade tumours, and in the stroma of only four cases. TGFβRII was positive in most squamous and intermediate cells, regardless of malignancy grading. Conclusions:  Our study showed that the analysis of neoplastic stroma must be added to the studies of neoplastic cells to draw a better picture leading to tumour diagnosis and prognosis.