ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Salivary gland neoplasms are not uncommon lesions that are seen in the head and neck region. The role of cell cycle regulators as well as that of oncogenes remains unexplored in the pathogenesis of these neoplasms. AIM: Present study was conducted to evaluate the expression of p27 in the three common salivary gland neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 34 cases (19 pleomorphic adenoma, 8 mucoepidermoid carcinoma and 7 adenoid cystic carcinoma) were included. The sections were subjected to p27 staining and rated for the expression. RESULTS: Of the total 52.6% of pleomorphic adenoma cases, 25% of mucoepidermoid carcinoma cases and only 14.2% of adenoid cystic carcinoma cases showed strong expression suggesting variable p27 expression in both malignant neoplasms. Normal salivary gland tissue was stained as a positive control for the evaluation. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest an important role for p27 in pathogenesis of mucoepidermoid carcinoma as well as adenoid cystic carcinoma while its role in pathogenesis of pleomorphic adenoma remains questionable keeping in view the strong expression of p27 in the same.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is an increasing likelihood of malignant change in pleomorphic adenoma (PA) with time. This extensive review aims to highlight the current areas of difficulty or controversy in the diagnosis of malignant transformation of pleomorphic adenoma - a subject of most interest and challenge to a pathologist. It is also the objective of this review to compare the clinical and pathological points-of-view on the diagnosis of malignant transformation of pleomorphic adenoma. METHODS: A literature search using MEDLINE, accessed through the National Library of Medicine PubMed interface, for articles relating to malignant transformation of pleomorphic salivary adenoma written in the English language. RESULTS: The updated literature indicates that carcinomas in pleomorphic adenoma may arise in an older age group than benign lesions and are usually larger and longer standing lesions. The use of molecular changes to study malignant transformation of pleomorphic adenoma, unfortunately, have no specific expression on the tumor suppressor genes to detect the malignant transformation of pleomorphic adenoma from pathological point view. CONCLUSION: The use of combined clinical evidence and pathological evidence are very important in the detection of the malignant transformation of pleomorphic adenoma. KEYWORDS: pleomorphic adenoma, malignant transformation of pleomorphic adenoma.