IADR Abstract Archives
Can CD44 predict the clinical outcome of patients with Adenoid cystic carcinomas of salivary gland origin?
Objectives: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ADCC) is the second most common salivary gland malignancy with slow but relentless progression and dismal long-term prognosis. Considering the role of cancer stem cells (CSC) in initiation, progression, metastasis, recurrence and treatment resistance in different tumor types, we aimed to evaluate the cancer stem cell marker (CD44 expression) in different grades of ADCC and correlate this data with clinicopathologic features.
Methods: 31 samples of ADCC were examined by immunohistochemistry for CD44 expression. Patients’ medical records were reviewed for clinicopathologic findings including lymphatic involvement, distant metastasis, recurrence and follow up data.
Results: In this study CD44 was expressed mostly in abluminal neoplastic cells (membrane staining) in all cases of ADCC. Although the differences were not statistically significant, a tendency of higher expression of CD44 was noted in patients with no recurrences, death of disease or lymph node involvement. Higher grades of ADCC showed higher expressions of CD44 (Grade 1: 39.5± 32, Grade2: 51.72±26.68, Grade 3: 65.56±22). Moreover, the expression level of CD44 was not significantly associated with 5-year overall survival of the patients.
Conclusions: Although a tendency for lower expression of CD44 was seen in patients with better clinical outcome (recurrence free or without lymph node involvement), this marker alone might not add clinical data to predict the prognosis of patients with ADCC. The implication of combination of cancer stem cell markers for predicting the behavior in salivary gland carcinomas is yet to be determined.
Methods: 31 samples of ADCC were examined by immunohistochemistry for CD44 expression. Patients’ medical records were reviewed for clinicopathologic findings including lymphatic involvement, distant metastasis, recurrence and follow up data.
Results: In this study CD44 was expressed mostly in abluminal neoplastic cells (membrane staining) in all cases of ADCC. Although the differences were not statistically significant, a tendency of higher expression of CD44 was noted in patients with no recurrences, death of disease or lymph node involvement. Higher grades of ADCC showed higher expressions of CD44 (Grade 1: 39.5± 32, Grade2: 51.72±26.68, Grade 3: 65.56±22). Moreover, the expression level of CD44 was not significantly associated with 5-year overall survival of the patients.
Conclusions: Although a tendency for lower expression of CD44 was seen in patients with better clinical outcome (recurrence free or without lymph node involvement), this marker alone might not add clinical data to predict the prognosis of patients with ADCC. The implication of combination of cancer stem cell markers for predicting the behavior in salivary gland carcinomas is yet to be determined.