Mass spectrometry-based proteome profile may be useful to differentiate adenoid cystic carcinoma from polymorphous adenocarcinoma of salivary glands.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the proteome of adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) and polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAc) and to identify a protein signature useful in distinguishing these two neoplasms.

STUDY DESIGN

Ten cases of AdCC and 10 cases of PAc were microdissected for enrichment of neoplastic tissue. The samples were submitted to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and the proteomics data were analyzed by using the MaxQuant software. LC-MS/MS spectra were searched against the Human UniProt database, and statistical analyses were performed with Perseus software. Bioinformatic analyses were performed by using discovery-based proteomic data on both tumors.

RESULTS

LC-MS/MS analysis identified 1957 proteins. The tumors shared 1590 proteins, and 261 were exclusively identified in AdCC and 106 in PAc. Clustering analysis of the statistically significant proteins clearly separated AdCC from PAc. Protein expression 10 times higher in one group than in the other led to a signature of 16 proteins-6 upregulated in AdCC and 10 in PAc. A new clustering analysis showed reverse regulation and also differentiated both tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

Global proteomics may be useful in discriminating these two malignant salivary neoplasms that frequently show clinical and microscopic overlaps, but additional validation studies are still necessary to determine the diagnostic potential of the protein signature obtained.