Analysis Of CD34 And CD105 Immunoexpression In Salivary Gland Tumors

Objectives: To investigate the angiogenic features of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors by evaluating the immunoexpression of CD34 and CD105 proteins. Methods: Seventy-six formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors, collected between 2001 and 2010, were retrieved from the archives of the Department of Oral Diagnosis (Pathology) of the Piracicaba Dental School (Brazil). These samples were used to construct tissue microarray blocks containing duplicate 2mm cores. Immunohistochemical analysis of the resulting microarray sections was carried out using CD34 (DakoCytomation, USA) and CD105 (DakoCytomation, USA) antibodies. The slides were scanned and analyzed using the Aperio ScanScope Slide Scanner CS and the software ImageScope (Aperio Technologies, USA), respectively. Clinical data were retrieved from patient’s charts. Results: The 76 cases studied consisted of 38 pleomorphic adenomas, 10 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 4 polymorphous low grade adenocarcinomas, 3 acinic cell carcinomas, 2 epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas, 1 myoepithelial carcinoma, 4 carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenomas, 10 mucoepidermoid carcinomas and 4 adenocarcinomas not otherwise specified. A slight female dominance was seen in patients affected by benign tumors, whereas male individuals were more commonly affected by malignancies. The average age for those patients having malignant neoplasias was 54.9 years, whereas those affected by benign tumors presented with a mean age of 43.9 years. The parotid gland was the most involved site. No significant difference was seen in the expression of CD34 in blood vessels from benign and malignant tumors, but a significantly greater number of CD105-positive blood vessels were observed in malignant tumors. Conclusion: Our research clearly demonstrates that the more specific neoangiogenic-related marker, CD105, is a more useful tool for determining the higher angiogenic potential of malignant salivary gland neoplasias.