Correlation between transcription factor Snail1 expression and prognosis in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland.

OBJECTIVE

Transcription factor Snail1 has a central role in induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The aim of the present study was to study the association of Snail1 expression with clinicopathologic factors and prognosis in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of salivary gland.

STUDY DESIGN

Demographic variables and primary tumor site, dates of diagnoses, perineural invasion, local regional recurrence, and distant metastasis of 121 cases of salivary ACC were retrieved. The Snail1 expression of all these cases was examined by immunohistochemical methods. The association between Snail1 expression and clinicopathologic variables was analyzed using chi-square test, and the prognostic factors were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Our data demonstrated that the positive expression of Snail1 was observed in 58.68% (71/121) of cases. Snail1 expression was significantly associated with histologic pattern, perineural invasion, local regional recurrence, and distant metastasis of patients with ACC (P < .05). And Snail1 expression, local regional recurrence, and distant metastasis were independent and significant prognostic factors in all patients.

CONCLUSION

Snail1 may play an important role in the invasion and metastasis of ACC, and Snail1 has the potential for being a strong prognosis indicator at presentation of ACC patients.