Retrospective Analysis of Clinicopathological Characteristics of Lacrimal Gland Pleomorphic Adenoma and Mechanism of Tumorigenesis by the Imbalance Between Apoptosis and Proliferation

Lacrimal gland pleomorphic adenoma: a narrative review

We present a literature review of 57 publications describing this pathology, published from the year 2012. In all these studies patients were reported to depict a slow-growing, motionless mass, which is painless at most times. All cases were managed by total excision, except for one report where adjuvant radiotherapy was applied. Among the several therapeutic strategies, the total tumor resection, preserving the tumor pseudocapsule intact, appears to be a consensus in treating the disease efficiently. Furthermore, fine-needle aspiration biopsy, including the assessment of genetic alterations, has proved to be a valuable tool in the diagnosis of challenging cases. Our literature survey also suggests that an incisional biopsy before the surgery may lead to the pseudocapsule disruption, thus considerably increasing the chances of adenoma recurrence, enabling its malignization. At present, genetics studies indicate that the molecular aberrations involved in the adenoma are similar to those represented in the salivary gland tumor pathogenesis. Further, in the recurrent cases, the pathology becomes difficult to treat and multiple surgeries may be required, occasionally, leading to radical surgery treatment.

The role of EphA7 in different tumors

Ephrin receptor A7 (EphA7) is a member of the Eph receptor family. It is widely involved in signal transduction between cells, regulates cell proliferation and differentiation, and participates in developing neural tubes and brain. In addition, EphA7 also has a dual role of tumor promoter and tumor suppressor. It can participate in cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis through various mechanisms, and affect tumor differentiation, staging and prognosis. EphA7 may be a potential diagnostic marker and tumor treatment target. This article reviews the effects of EphA7 on a variety of tumor biological processes and pathological characteristics, as well as specific effects and regulatory mechanisms.