•  
  •  
 

Corresponding Author

Mona Mohsen Abdo Ibrahim

Article Type

Original Article

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the importance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) as prognostic markers via immunohistochemical expression of vimentin in tumor cells and stroma of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SAdCC).

Material and methods: This was a retrospective cohort study on 40 paraffin blocks of SAdCC. Immunohistochemical expression of vimentin was performed and analyzed in tumor cells and stroma. The mean area of expression was scored as the following: 1(weak =1-10%, moderate = 11-50%, and strong = 51-100 %). While expression in stroma was divided according to a 50% ratio as cut off point into, stroma-poor cases =high TSR (≥50%), and stroma-rich cases = low TSR (<50%).

Results: The mean age of affected patients was 47 +SD 10.544. Advanced TNM stage III was reported in 3 cases. The cribriform pattern was the mainly observed and perineural invasion was noted in 42.5% of cases. Vimentin expression was positive in tumor cells and stroma of all cases in variable percentages. Stroma-poor cases were 57.5%, while stroma-rich cases were 42.5% showing advanced histopathologic and clinical grades. A statistically significant difference was recorded between TSR and histopathology, TNM staging, and size ( p=.017, p=.024, and p=.025 respectively). Vimentin expression in tumor cells was significantly correlated with TSR and histopathology of cases ( p=.011, and p=.001 respectively).

Conclusions: Vimentin expression could be useful as a prognostic marker in SAdCC. It outlined EMT and TSR changes associated with advanced clinical and histopathologic grades. EMT and TSR are two reliable prognostic features in SAdCC.

Keywords

Tumor stroma ratio, Adenoid cystic carcinoma, Vimentin, Epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Download

Share

COinS