ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression and significance of transforming growth factor-β(1) (TGF-β(1)) and Ki-67 nuclear antigen in salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of TGF-β(1) and Ki-67 nuclear antigen in 20 cases of salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma and 45 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma were detected by the streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Expression of TGF-β(1) (39/45) and Ki-67 nuclear antigen (43/45) in mucoepidermoid carcinoma was significantly higher than in pleomorphic adenoma (P < 0.05). TGF-β(1) expression was significantly higher in moderately/poorly differentiated mucoepidermoid carcinoma (16/16) than that in well differentiated mucoepidermoid carcinoma (23/29) and pleomorphic adenoma (12/20) (P < 0.05), but not different between well differentiated mucoepidermoid carcinoma (6/23) and pleomorphic adenoma (8/12) (P > 0.05). The expression of Ki-67 was increased with the increment of TGF-β(1) expression in mucoepidermoid carcinoma (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The high expression of TGF-β(1) may play an important role in cell differentiation and malignant proliferation of mucoepidermoid carcinoma.</p>