Immunohistochemical Expression of E-Cadherin in Salivary Glands and Their Tumors.

Abstract

E-cadherin is a calcium dependent cell adhesion molecule, important in cell to cell interactions in epithelial tissues. The present study examined E-cadherin expression in normal salivary glands, pleomorphic adenoma, Warthin's tumor, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of salivary glands in paraffin sections using a monoclonal antibody (5H9). This study is firstly reported E-cadherin expression in the salivary gland and tumors.In normal submandibular and parotid gland, E-cadherin staining was confined to the cell membrane of acinar and ductal cells. In excretory ducts, high columnar cells showed the strongest reaction at the basal aspect and ductal basal cells were weakly positive or negative, the basement membrane zone lacked staining. No E-cadherin reaction was observed in modified myoepithelial cells and plasmacytoid cells. In pleomorphic adenoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma, E-cadherin was positive at the lateral cell membrane or whole cell membrane of duct-like structure and epidermoid cells. Acinic cell carcinoma was negative for E-cadherin. In adenoid cystic carcinoma, the expression was only found in cribriform areas. In adenocarcinoma, the staining was seen in the cell membrane of duct like structures and occasional cells showed a strong cytoplasmic reaction. Positive E-cadherin staining in salivary gland tumors was higher in benign tumors than in malignant tumors.