[The expression of CD44s and CD44v6 in human salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma ].

OBJECTIVE

The present study was to investigate the expression of CD44s and CD44v6 in human salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and to discuss the relationship between the expression of the proteins and the biological characteristic of ACC.METHODS:Formalin fixed,paraffin embedded sections in 10 cases of normal salivary glands and 50 cases of human salivary ACC were examined using immunostaining for CD44s and CD44v6.RESULTS:(1)Positive signals of CD44s and CD44v6 were detected in all the specimens of normal salivary glands.Positive signals of CD44s and CD44v6 were detected in 29(58%) and 35(70%) of the 50 cases of ACC.(2)The expression of CD44s and CD44v6 in the solid pattern of ACC was significantly less than that in the cribriform and tubular pattern of ACC(P<0.05).(3)Positive CD44s staining was detected in 3(13.6%) of the 22 ACC primary sites which had a local recurrence after operation.CONCLUSION:(1)Adhesion molecules including CD44s and CD44v6 may contribute to maintain the normal structures in salivary gland tissues.(2)T he down-regulation or loss of CD44s expression was contributed to the recurrence of human salivary ACC and CD44s could be regarded as one of the factors to evaluate the prognosis of ACC patients.