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Immunohistochemical evaluation of the mTOR pathway in intra‐oral minor salivary gland neoplasms
Author(s) -
Diamanti S,
Nikitakis N,
Rassidakis G,
Doulis I,
Sklavounou A
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
oral diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.953
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1601-0825
pISSN - 1354-523X
DOI - 10.1111/odi.12504
Subject(s) - salivary gland , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , immunohistochemistry , minor salivary glands , cancer research , phosphorylation , biology , pathology , medicine , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology
Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of upstream and downstream molecules of the oncogenic mTOR signaling pathway in intra‐oral minor salivary gland tumors ( SGT s). Materials and Methods Tissue samples consisted of 39 malignant and 13 benign minor SGT s, and 8 controls of normal minor salivary glands ( NMSG ). An immunohistochemical analysis for phosphorylated Akt, 4 EBP 1 and S6 (total and phosphorylated), and eIF 4E was performed. Results Expression of pA kt and 4 EBP 1 was observed in all SGT s and in most NMSG . p4 EBP 1 was detected in almost all SGT cases, NMSG being negative. S6 immunoreactivity was observed in 37.5% of NMSG , 92.3% of benign and 100% of malignant SGT s, while pS 6 expression was observed in 77% of benign and 95% of malignant SGT s, but not in NMSG . Finally, eIF 4E was expressed in 12.5% of NMSG , 69.2% of benign, and 76.9% of malignant tumors. All molecules studied had statistically significantly lower expression in NMSG compared with SGT s. Moreover, malignant neoplasms received higher scores compared with benign tumors for all molecules with the exception of eIF 4E. Conclusion The mTOR signaling pathway is activated in SGT s, especially in malignancies. Therefore, the possible therapeutic role of targeting the mTOR pathway by rapamycin analogs in SGT s needs further investigation.