ANALYSIS OF PLAG1 EXPRESSION IN PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMA AND CARCINOMA EX PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMA

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common salivary gland neoplasm, corresponding to about 60% of all neoplasms. Although most cases are surgically removed by radical resection, recurrences may occur even after several decades and in some cases malignant transformation may still occur of a pre-existing PA causing the carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA). CXPA, although relatively rare, reserve a poor prognosis and it has an aggressive clinical course. Strong correlation has been described between both neoplasia and the proto-oncogene PLAG1 (Pleomorphic Adenoma Gene 1) which leads to production of a protein that positively regulates several growth factors genes. The PLAG1 expression analysis in both tumors will help in the confirmation this marker for the diagnosis of PA and CXPA, besides of contribute to better understanding of carcinogenesis of CXPA.