[Use of tumor markers in the diagnosis of salivary gland tumors].

The group of tumour markers contain antigens and cell products which can be demonstrated in tumour cells by immunocytochemical methods (immunofluorescence, immunoperoxidase) and can, thus, be analysed for the classification of tumour. In human salivary gland tumours the distribution of cytoplasmatic antigens as components of the cytoskeleton, the occurrence of cell membrane antigens and of enzymatic cell products is demonstrated. Prekeratin, as an intermediate-sized filament protein, is a specific marker of epithelial tumours, whereas vimentin is a marker of mesenchymal cells. A special feature is the occurrence of prekeratin and vimentin in spindle-shaped cells of pleomorphic adenomas. The tumour-associated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is found in glandular tumours and highly differentiated keratinized squamous cell carcinomas. With regard to enzymatic cell products, lactoferrin is present in glandular tumours and amylase in acinic cell tumours, but lysozyme is not detectable. The implementation of tumour markers contributes not only to an improvement in tumour diagnosis, but opens up new aspects in the cyto- and histogenesis of tumours.