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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Expression of FOXI1 and POU2F3 varies among different salivary gland neoplasms and is higher in Warthin tumor

Authors: Masahito Hoki, Yosuke Yamada, Emi Hiratomo, Masahiro Hirata, Yasuhide Takeuchi, Masayoshi Yoshimatsu, Masahiro Kikuchi, Yo Kishimoto, Alexander Marx, Hironori Haga

Published in: Discover Oncology | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Purpose

Salivary gland tumors are histologically diverse. Ionocytes and tuft cells, rare epithelial cells found in normal salivary glands, might be associated with salivary tumors. Here, we explored the expression of FOXI1 and POU2F3, master regulators of ionocytes and tuft cells, respectively, for common salivary neoplasms using immunohistochemistry.

Methods

We analyzed normal salivary tissues and nine salivary gland tumors; Warthin tumors (WT), pleomorphic adenomas (PA), basal cell adenomas, and oncocytomas were benign, whereas mucoepidermoid, adenoid cystic, acinic cell, salivary duct carcinomas, and polymorphous adenocarcinomas were malignant.

Results

Normal salivary glands contained a few FOXI1- and POU2F3-positive cells in the ducts instead of the acini, consistent with ionocytes and tuft cells, respectively. Among the benign tumors, only WTs and PAs consistently expressed FOXI1 (10/10 and 9/10, respectively). The median H-score of WTs was significantly higher than that of PAs (17.5 vs. 4, P = 0.01). While WTs and PAs harbored POU2F3-positive cells (10/10 and 9/10, respectively), the median H-score was higher in WTs than in PAs (10.5 vs 4, respectively). Furthermore, WTs exhibited a unique staining pattern of FOXI1- and POU2F3-positive cells, which were present in luminal and abluminal locations, respectively. Whereas none of the malignant tumors expressed FOXI1, only adenoid cystic carcinoma consistently expressed POU2F3 (5/5), with a median H-score of 4.

Conclusion

The expression patterns of the characteristic transcription factors found in ionocytes and tuft cells vary among salivary gland tumor types and are higher in WT, which might be relevant for understanding and diagnosing salivary gland neoplasms.

WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board. Head and neck tumours. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2022.

WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board. Thoracic tumours. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2021.

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Title: Expression of FOXI1 and POU2F3 varies among different salivary gland neoplasms and is higher in Warthin tumor
Authors: Masahito Hoki
Yosuke Yamada
Emi Hiratomo
Masahiro Hirata
Yasuhide Takeuchi
Masayoshi Yoshimatsu
Masahiro Kikuchi
Yo Kishimoto
Alexander Marx
Hironori Haga
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Discover Oncology / Issue 1/2024
Print ISSN: 1868-8497
Electronic ISSN: 2730-6011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-024-00892-7

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