Maspin and MCM2 immunoprofiling in salivary gland carcinomas

Unraveling the key role of chromatin structure in cancer development through epigenetic landscape characterization of oral cancer

Epigenetic alterations, such as those in chromatin structure and DNA methylation, have been extensively studied in a number of tumor types. But oral cancer, particularly oral adenocarcinoma, has received far less attention. Here, we combined laser-capture microdissection and muti-omics mini-bulk sequencing to systematically characterize the epigenetic landscape of oral cancer, including chromatin architecture, DNA methylation, H3K27me3 modification, and gene expression. In carcinogenesis, tumor cells exhibit reorganized chromatin spatial structures, including compromised compartment structures and altered gene-gene interaction networks. Notably, some structural alterations are observed in phenotypically non-malignant paracancerous but not in normal cells. We developed transformer models to identify the cancer propensity of individual genome loci, thereby determining the carcinogenic status of each sample. Insights into cancer epigenetic landscapes provide evidence that chromatin reorganization is an important hallmark of oral cancer progression, which is also linked with genomic alterations and DNA methylation reprogramming. In particular, regions of frequent copy number alternations in cancer cells are associated with strong spatial insulation in both cancer and normal samples. Aberrant methylation reprogramming in oral squamous cell carcinomas is closely related to chromatin structure and H3K27me3 signals, which are further influenced by intrinsic sequence properties. Our findings indicate that structural changes are both significant and conserved in two distinct types of oral cancer, closely linked to transcriptomic alterations and cancer development. Notably, the structural changes remain markedly evident in oral adenocarcinoma despite the considerably lower incidence of genomic copy number alterations and lesser extent of methylation alterations compared to squamous cell carcinoma. We expect that the comprehensive analysis of epigenetic reprogramming of different types and subtypes of primary oral tumors can provide additional guidance to the design of novel detection and therapy for oral cancer.

Current Developments in Diagnosis of Salivary Gland Tumors: From Structure to Artificial Intelligence

Salivary glands tumors are uncommon neoplasms with variable incidence, heterogenous histologies and unpredictable biological behaviour. Most tumors are located in the parotid gland. Benign salivary tumors represent 54-79% of cases and pleomorphic adenoma is frequently diagnosed in this group. Salivary glands malignant tumors that are more commonly diagnosed are adenoid cystic carcinomas and mucoepidermoid carcinomas. Because of their diversity and overlapping features, these tumors require complex methods of evaluation. Diagnostic procedures include imaging techniques combined with clinical examination, fine needle aspiration and histopathological investigation of the excised specimens. This narrative review describes the advances in the diagnosis methods of these unusual tumors-from histomorphology to artificial intelligence algorithms.

Evaluation of Some Prognostic Biomarkers in Human Papillomavirus-Related Multiphenotypic Sinonasal Carcinoma

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related multi phenotypic sinonasal carcinoma (HMSC) is a recently described tumor subtype with an unknown prognosis, often misdiagnosed with other sinonasal carcinomas, and associated with high-risk HPV (HR-HPV). The present study aimed to evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX), epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), ProExTMC, and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and assess their association with survival and clinicopathological characteristics.

Methods

Between 2017 and 2022, 40 HMSC patients underwent surgical resection at the School of Medicine, Zagazig University Hospitals (Zagazig, Egypt). Tissue samples were examined for the presence of HR-HPV; absence of myeloblastosis (MYB), MYB proto-oncogene like 1 (MYBL1), and nuclear factor I/B (NFIB) fusions and the presence of myoepithelial proteins (calponin, S100, SMA), squamous differentiation markers (p63, p40, calponin), VEGF, BAX, ProExTMC, and hTERT by immunohistochemistry. All patients were followed up for about 54 months until death or the last known survival data. Data were analyzed using the Chi square test and Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

The expression of VEGF, hTERT, and ProExTMC was significantly associated with age, advanced tumor stages, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, mortality, relapse, poor disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) (P<0.001). BAX expression was significantly associated with tumor size, age, poor DFS, and relapse (P=0.01, P<0.001, P=0.035, and P=0.002, respectively).

Conclusion

HMSC is strongly associated with HR-HPV. The expression of VEGF, EGFR, BAX, hTERT, and ProExTMC is associated with aggressive malignant behavior, poor survival, and poor prognosis, making them novel prognostic biomarkers for targeted therapeutics in HMSC.

Immunohistochemical analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and minichromosome maintenance complex component 7 in benign and malignant salivary gland tumors

Background:

Proliferation markers have been used to determine the behavior and prognosis of benign and malignant tumors; this study was aimed to compare the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and novel marker minichromosome maintenance complex component 7 (MCM7) in common salivary gland tumors including pleomorphic adenoma (PA), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), and adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC), to find a possible significant correlation between benign and malignant tumors.

Materials and Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 90 cases, including 30 PAs, 30 MECs, and 30 AdCCs, were collected. The IHC expressions of PCNA and MCM7 were evaluated. Their expressions were compared with each other and between benign and malignant tumors. Statistical analysis was performed by Chi-square and Tukey's test. P value was considered 0.05.

Results:

Out of 30 cases of PA, 28 cases (93.3%) were PCNA positive and 28 cases (93.3%) were MCM7 positive. In the AdCC cases, 29 cases (96.6%) were PCNA positive and 29 cases (96.6%) were MCM7 positive. In the MEC cases, all cases (100%) were PCNA positive and 23 cases (76.6%) were MCM7 positive. The labeling index (LI) of MCM7 and PCNA was evaluated, and this index was lower in MCM7 LI than PCNA in all tumors. The MCM7 and PCNA expression showed a significant difference in PA and MEC (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

PCNA expression was higher than MCM7 expression in salivary gland tumors. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the malignant activity of these tumors with group of markers such as MCM family members.

2021 Update on Diagnostic Markers and Translocation in Salivary Gland Tumors

Salivary gland tumors are a rare tumor entity within malignant tumors of all tissues. The most common are malignant mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and acinic cell carcinoma. Pleomorphic adenoma is the most recurrent form of benign salivary gland tumor. Due to their low incidence rates and complex histological patterns, they are difficult to diagnose accurately. Malignant tumors of the salivary glands are challenging in terms of differentiation because of their variability in histochemistry and translocations. Therefore, the primary goal of the study was to review the current literature to identify the recent developments in histochemical diagnostics and translocations for differentiating salivary gland tumors.

CD73 a novel marker for the diagnosis of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors

Background

Ecto-5’-nucleotidase (CD73) plays an important role in the development of several types of cancer; however, its prognostic significance in salivary gland tumors remains unknown. The current study was conducted to investigate the expression of CD73 in such tumors.

Material and Methods

In this retrospective study, immunohistochemical expression of CD73 was evaluated in 25 pleomorphic adenomas, 20 mucoepidermoid carcinomas and 20 adenoid cystic carcinomas using the Envision technique. Labeling indices of CD73 expression were calculated and compared between lesions.

Results

Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the CD73 expression was significantly higher in salivary gland tumors than in normal salivary gland tissue (p<0.001). CD73 expression was significantly higher in mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma compared to pleomorphic adenoma p<0.001). In addition, the expression of CD73 was significantly higher in lymph node metastasizing cancers compared to non-metastasizing malignancies (P<0.001). In contrast, there was no significant association between CD73 expression and other clinicopathological variables such as age, gender, tumor size and distant metastasis (P>0.05).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that CD73 can be an independent and useful biomarker for predicting the clinical behavior of salivary gland tumors.

Key words:Ecto-5’-nucleotidase, immunohistochemistry, salivary gland tumors.

Assessment of Proliferative Index Between the Tumor Margin, Center of Tumor, and the Invasive Tumor Front of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma With the Help of Mcm-2: An Immunohistochemical Study

AIM

The knowledge of cellular proteins that involves cell cycle and its control system is essential for understanding tumor biology. Minichromosome maintenance protein (Mcm-2), a component of prereplicative complex, essential for initiating DNA replication, is deregulated in different malignant lesions, and is expressed throughout the whole cell cycle including the G0 and G1 phases. This characteristic cell cycle event is not found in other proliferative markers such as geminin, AgNOR, Ki-67, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The aim of the present study was to analyze and compare the expression of Mcm-2 in normal oral mucosa (NM) and oral squamous cell carcinomas at tumor margins (TM), the tumor center (TC), and the invasive tumor front (ITF), with correlation of clinicopathologic features.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tissues from 50 oral squamous cell carcinomas and 10 NM were archived retrospectively and stained with an antibody directed against the Mcm-2 antigen. A quantitative method was used to score the Mcm-2 expression in NM, TM, TC, and ITF. Nuclei labeling index for each case was estimated as the percentage of immunoreactive nuclei among 500 cells separately for NM, TM, TC, and ITF.

RESULTS

Nuclei labeling index increases progressively from NM (49.08%), TM (67.79%), and TC (76.87%) to ITF (87.77%).

CONCLUSIONS

Cell proliferation by Mcm-2 at the ITF had a strong positive relationship with TC, TM. Mcm-2, a pan-cell cycle marker, is more sensitive in comparison with other conventional proliferative markers, which can be a better prognostic indicator.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck--An update

This article provides an update on the current understanding of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck, including a review of its epidemiology, clinical behavior, pathology, molecular biology, diagnostic workup, treatment and prognosis. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is an uncommon salivary gland tumor that may arise in a wide variety of anatomical sites in the head and neck, often with an advanced stage at diagnosis. The clinical course is characterized by very late recurrences; consequently, clinical follow-up should extend at least >15 years. The optimal treatment is generally considered to be surgery with postoperative radiotherapy to optimize local disease control. Much effort has been invested into understanding the tumor's molecular biological processes, aiming to identify patients at high risk of recurrence, in hopes that they could benefit from other, still unproven treatment modalities such as chemotherapy or biological therapy.

Maspin as a tumour suppressor in salivary gland tumour

Maspin is a protein that belongs to serin protease inhibitor (serpin) superfamily. The purpose of this study was to review the literature concerning the expression of maspin in salivary gland tumours. A literature search was done using MEDLINE, accessed via the National Library of Medicine PubMed interface. Statistical analysis was not done because only seven studies were available in literature, the collected data were different and the results could not be compared. Expression of maspin was down regulated in more aggressive salivary gland tumours. Maspin may function as a tumour suppressor in salivary gland tumours.

A review: Immunological markers for malignant salivary gland tumors

Salivary gland cancers are rare. Around 8 out of 10 salivary gland tumors (80%) are in the parotid. Just fewer than 2 out of 10 salivary gland cancers develop in the other two salivary glands - the submandibular or sublingual glands. Fewer than 1 in 10 cancers start in the minor salivary glands. There are many different types of salivary gland cancers. The most common is mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC). Just over 3 out of 10 (25-35%) salivary gland cancers (SGT, SGC) are of this type. The others include adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), acinic cell carcinoma, carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma (Ca-PA), polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) and some newly discovered salivary gland tumors. Because of the infrequency of salivary gland tumors and their complex histopathological diagnosis, it is difficult to exactly predict their clinical course by means of its recurrence, malignant progression or metastasis. Salivary gland tumors always pose problems in diagnosis. This review provides an insight into the recent concepts and immunohistochemical markers to diagnose the malignant salivary gland tumors (SGT), thus guiding the Ear, Nose and Throat specialists, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, General Pathologists and other medical and dental specialists thereby enabling them to make correct diagnosis and provide the appropriate treatment.

MCM3 as a novel diagnostic marker in benign and malignant salivary gland tumors

BACKGROUND

Proliferation markers widely have been used to diagnose and determine the behaviour and prognosis of benign and malignant tumours. Minichromosome maintenance 3 (MCM3) is a novel proliferation marker. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare MCM3 with Ki-67 in diagnosis of salivary gland tumours.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, immunohistochemical expression of MCM3 and Ki-67 was evaluated in 15 pleomorphic adenomas (PA), 17 mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MEC) and 18 adenoid cystic carcinomas (ADCC) . Labeling indices (LIs) for the two markers were calculated and compared.

RESULTS

MCM3 and Ki-67 LIs were significantly higher in MEC and ADCC compared to PA. The LI of MCM3 was significantly higher than that of Ki-67 in MEC and PA. There was no significant difference between the two markers in ADCC. A cut-off point of 8% with 74.3% sensitivity and 93.3% specificity for MCM3 was obtained to discern between benign and malignant tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that MCM3 might be a useful proliferation marker for differential diagnosis and recognition of clinical behavior of salivary gland tumors.

Unusual mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the liver misdiagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma by intraoperative histological examination

As rare condition, mucoepidermoid carcinoma may occur in liver although its etiology and pathogenesis is still unclear. We report here a case of intrahepatic mucoepidermoid carcinoma misdiagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma by preoperative radiologic and intraoperative histological examinations, respectively. A 60-year-old woman presented with a 1-month history of progressive jaundice, epigastric discomfort, and weight loss with slightly increased carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9). Computed tomography (CT) showed a large tumor, 8.0 cm in diameter, in the left lobe of the liver. A preliminary diagnosis of a cholangiocarcinoma of the liver was made. In the intraoperative histological examination, a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma was made based on predominantly invasive epidermoid cells with abundant keratinization and absence of mucin-producing cell component. However, postoperative histological diagnosis of the lesion was mucoepidermiod carcinoma of liver by thoroughly microscopical inspection and the presence of mucin-producing cells confirmed by Alcian blue staining. Despite surgical excision and chemotherapy, the tumor showed very aggressive malignancy with tumor recurrence. The patient died shortly afterward, surviving 6 months after surgery. Due to its rarity and distinct morphological features, mucoepidermoid carcinoma might be erroneously interpreted as squamous cell carcinoma by those who were not familiar with this condition in unusual locations. Therefore, removal of sufficient tissue from different portions of the lesion is essential for the surgeons and pathologists to make a precise diagnosis in the intraoperative histological examination.

Maspin: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications

Maspin, a non-inhibitory member of the serine protease inhibitor superfamily, has been characterized as a tumor suppressor gene in multiple cancer types. Among the established anti-tumor effects of Maspin are the inhibition of cancer cell invasion, attachment to extracellular matrices, increased sensitivity to apoptosis, and inhibition of angiogenesis. However, while significant experimental data support the role of Maspin as a tumor suppressor, clinical data regarding the prognostic implications of Maspin expression have led to conflicting results. This highlights the need for a better understanding of the context dependencies of Maspin in normal biology and how these are perturbed in the context of cancer. In this review, we outline the regulation and roles of Maspin in normal and developmental biology while discussing novel evidence and emerging theories related to its functions in cancer. We provide insight into the immense therapeutic potential of Maspin and the challenges related to its successful clinical translation.

CD44/CD24 immunophenotypes on clinicopathologic features of salivary glands malignant neoplasms

BACKGROUND

Salivary glands malignant neoplasms (SGMNs) account for 3-6% of head and neck cancers and 0.3% of all cancers. Tumor cells that express CD44 and CD24 exhibit a stem-cell-like behavior. CD44 is the binding site for hyaluronic acid, and CD24 is a receptor that interacts with P-selectin to induce metastasis and tumor progression. The present study aims to evaluate the expression of CD44 and CD24 on SGMNs and correlated these data with several clinicopathologic features.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical stains for CD44 and CD24 were performed on tissue microarrays containing SGMN samples from 69 patients. The CD44, CD24 and CD44/CD24 expression phenotypes were correlated to patient clinicopathologic features and outcome.

RESULTS

CD44 expression was associated with the primary site of neoplasm (p = 0.046). CD24 was associated with clinical stage III/IV (p = 0.008), T stage (p = 0,27) and lymph node (p = 0,001). The CD44/CD24 profiles were associated with the primary site of injury (p = 0.005), lymph node (p = 0.011) and T stage (p = 0.023). Univariate analysis showed a significant relationship between clinical staging and disease- free survival (p = 0.009), and the overall survival presents relation with male gender (p = 0.011) and metastasis (p = 0.027).

CONCLUSION

In summary, our investigation confirms that the clinical stage, in accordance with the literature, is the main prognostic factor for SGMN. Additionally, we have presented some evidence that the analysis of isolated CD44 and CD24 immunoexpression or the two combined markers could give prognostic information associated to clinicopathologic features in SGMN.

VIRTUAL SLIDES

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1284611098470676.

Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma: an analysis of epidemiological studies and hints for pathologists

Background

This study is an analysis of the prevalence of polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) in epidemiological surveys of salivary tumors published in the English language from 1992 to 2012.

Methods

These surveys included studies from different researchers, countries and continents. The 57 surveys for which it was possible to calculate the percentage of PLGAs among all malignant minor salivary gland tumors (MMSGT) were included in this review.

Results

The statistical analyses show significant differences in the PLGA percentage by time period, country and continent in the studies included in this review. The percentage of PLGAs among MMSGTs varied among the studies, ranging from 0.0% to 46.8%. PLGA rates have varied over the period studied and have most recently increased. The frequency of reported PLGA cases also varied from 0.0% to 24.8% by the country in which the MMSGT studies were performed. The PLGA percentages also varied significantly by continent, with frequencies ranging from 3.9% in Asia to 20.0% in Oceania

Conclusion

Based on these results, we concluded that although the accuracy of PLGA diagnoses has improved, they remain a challenge for pathologists. To facilitate PLGA diagnoses, we have therefore made some suggestions for pathologists regarding tumors composed of single-layer strands of cells that form all of the histological patterns present in the tumor, consistency of the cytological appearance and uniformly positive CK7, vimentin and S100 immunohistochemistry, which indicate a single PLGA phenotype.

Virtual slide

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1059098656858324