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Comparative Cytokeratin Expression in the Different Cell Types of Salivary Gland Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma

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Abstract

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant salivary gland tumor, composed of several different cell types, with controversial histogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of cytokeratins in mucoepidermoid carcinoma, comparing to cytokeratin expression in normal salivary glands, in order to establish a possible correlation between tumor cells immunostaining and mucoepidermoid carcinoma histogenesis and differentiation. Eighty cases of salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma were immunohistochemically examined with the use of antibodies against cytokeratins 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, and 19. Cytokeratin expression varied according to the cellular type: squamous cells presented high expression of cytokeratins 6, 7, 8, 14, 18, and 19; intermediate and mucous cells of cytokeratin 7; clear and columnar cells of cytokeratins 6, 7, 8 and the latter also expressed cytokeratin 18. Cytokeratin 13 expression was low in all cell types. Cytokeratin immunoexpression in mucoepidermoid carcinoma was variable according to the cellular type; but regardless of the cellular type studied, cytokeratins 7 and 13 were, respectively, constantly high and low expressed. The immunoprofile of the normal salivary glands was variable according to the component but, in general, cytokeratin profile in mucoepidermoid carcinoma showed similarity to the immunoexpression on the excretory duct unit of normal salivary glands.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by CAPES, FAPESP and CNPq, Brazil. The authors thank Ana Cristina do Amaral Godoy for the immunohistochemical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oral Pathology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Avenida Limeira, 901, Caixa Postal 52, CEP: 13414-903, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil

    Rebeca Souza Azevedo & Oslei Paes de Almeida

  2. Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, AC Camargo Cancer Hospital, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Luiz Paulo Kowalski

  3. Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Fábio Ramôa Pires

Authors
  1. Rebeca Souza Azevedo
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  2. Oslei Paes de Almeida
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  3. Luiz Paulo Kowalski
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  4. Fábio Ramôa Pires
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Correspondence to Rebeca Souza Azevedo.

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Azevedo, R.S., de Almeida, O.P., Kowalski, L.P. et al. Comparative Cytokeratin Expression in the Different Cell Types of Salivary Gland Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma. Head and Neck Pathol 2, 257–264 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-008-0074-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-008-0074-1

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