Immunohistochemical study of androgen, estrogen and progesterone receptors in salivary gland tumors

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the immunohistochemical expression of androgen receptor, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor in pleomorphic adenomas, Warthin's tumors, mucoepidermoid carcinomas and adenoid cystic carcinomas of salivary glands. A total of 41 pleomorphic adenomas, 30 Warthin's tumors, 30 mucoepidermoid carcinomas and 30 adenoid cystic carcinomas were analyzed, and the immunohistochemical expression of these hormone receptors were assessed. It was observed that all cases were negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors. Androgen receptor was positive in 2 cases each of pleomorphic adenoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma. In conclusion, the results do not support a role of estrogen and progesterone in the tumorigenesis of pleomorphic adenomas, Warthin's tumors, mucoepidermoid carcinomas and adenoid cystic carcinomas. However, androgen receptors can play a role in a small set of salivary gland tumors, and this would deserve further studies.

Ancillary testing strategies in salivary gland aspiration cytology: A practical pattern‐based approach

“…[58][59][60] Co-expression of S100 and mammaglobin or mammaglobin alone can be seen in other salivary gland tumors including PLGA and AdCC 60,61 and therefore these should be used in combination when attempting to confirm the diagnosis of MASC. 67,68 With the exception of the occasional MEC with high grade cytonuclear features, these other entities are unlikely to enter in the differential diagnosis with SDC, especially when considering this pattern based approach. Additionally, PLGA and AdCC are usually p63 positive while MASC is generally negative or has only rare p63 positive cells.…”

Immunohistochemical expression of oestrogen receptor‐α and progesterone receptor in salivary gland tumours

“…Reasons suggested for the wide differences in the rate of expression of steroid hormone receptors in SGTs include differences in gender, age and tumour histology. Other reasons include varying techniques of tissue fixation and antigen retrieval . In this study, there was no statistically significant difference in the age and gender distribution of patients that showed positive expression of ER‐α receptors compared with those without positive expression.…”

Immunohistochemical Analysis of Various Salivary Gland Carcinomas Focusing on the Possibility of Molecular-targeted and Hormonal Therapy

“…Barnes et al 6 reported that ER-and PgR-positive breast carcinomas are highly responsive to the ER antagonist tamoxifen, while there are several studies about ER and PgR overexpression in salivary gland carcinomas. Ito et al 24 reported…”