Expression Profile of Stemness Markers CD138, Nestin and Alpha-SMA in Ameloblastic Tumours.

Callisthenis Yiannis,Silvia Varricchio,Rita Paolini,Gaetano De Rosa,Michele Davide Mignogna,Valentina Natella,Antonio Celentano,Cosimo Galletti,Massimo Mascolo,Roberto Lo Giudice

doi:10.3390/ijerph18083899

Abstract

Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare malignant odontogenic neoplasm with a poor prognosis. It can arise de novo or from a pre-existing ameloblastoma. Research into stemness marker expression in ameloblastic tumours is lacking. This study aimed to explore the immunohistochemical expression of stemness markers nestin, CD138, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) for the characterisation of ameloblastic tumours. Six cases of ameloblastoma and four cases of ameloblastic carcinoma were assessed, including one case of ameloblastic carcinoma arising from desmoplastic ameloblastoma. In all tumour samples, CD138 was positive, whilst alpha-SMA was negative. Nestin was negative in all but one tumour sample. Conversely, the presence or absence of these markers varied in stroma samples. Nestin was observed in one ameloblastic carcinoma stroma sample, whilst CD138 was positive in one ameloblastoma case, one desmoplastic ameloblastoma case, and in two ameloblastic carcinoma stroma samples. Finally, alpha-SMA was found positive only in the desmoplastic ameloblastoma stroma sample. Our results suggest nestin expression to be an indicator for ameloblastic carcinoma, and CD138 and alpha-SMA to be promising biomarkers for the malignant transformation of ameloblastoma. Our data showed that nestin, CD138, and alpha-SMA are novel biomarkers for a better understanding of the origins and behaviour of ameloblastic tumours.

Highlights

Ameloblastomas (ABs) are uncommon, benign, locally aggressive odontogenic tumours of epithelial origin with a high incidence of recurrence [1,2,3,4]
The main aim of this study was to explore the immunoexpression of stem cell markers nestin, CD138, and alpha-SMA in a series of four cases of ameloblastic carcinoma and to compare this data to an ameloblastoma immunoexpression profile
Our results suggest nestin expression to be an indicator of Ameloblastic carcinoma (AC), and CD138 and alpha-SMA to be biomarkers for transformation of AC from AB

Summary

Introduction

Ameloblastomas (ABs) are uncommon, benign, locally aggressive odontogenic tumours of epithelial origin with a high incidence of recurrence [1,2,3,4]. Left untreated, they have the potential to reach large sizes and cause physical disfiguration and functional disturbances. Ameloblastic tumours show significant histological variations and are classified into various benign and malignant entities [1]. According to the WHO 2017 classification, benign ABs are categorised into conventional, unicystic, and extraosseous/peripheral types [6]. Conventional is the most common type and makes up 85%

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