Study of lactational-like differentiation in mammary analogue secretory carcinoma of salivary gland origin

• Grant number: 16/18661-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2016
• End date: September 03, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Suzana Cantanhede Orsini Machado de Sousa
• Grantee: Bruno Tavares Sedassari
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC) is a recently described salivary gland neoplasm that exhibits marked morphological, immunohistochemical, and genetic similarities with secretory carcinoma of mammary gland, the last characterized by ETV6 gene break. As its name implies, MASC has a distinctive microscopic secretory aspect characterized by the presence of cells with xanthomatous or vacuolated cytoplasm associated with varying amounts of bubbly eosinophilic secretion. Interestingly, this aspect is very similar to that observed in secretory cells of alveolar mammary epithelium in lactational phase. Added to this, evidences such as its lipid-rich secretion and the expression of some factors, such as STAT5a and lysozyme, suggest a lactational-like differentiation in MASC. Therefore, the aim is to clarify the possibility of lactational-like differentiation in MASC comparing it with other salivary gland neoplasms with secretory features by evaluating immunohistochemical and genetic aspects associated with the process of lactational activity of the mammary gland. Thus, this project also aims to provide new insights into the differentiation process observed in salivary gland neoplasms and it may also point perspectives for new therapeutic possibilities. With the growing arsenal of molecular-based targeted therapies, it is possible that in the future each histological type of salivary gland carcinoma will require an individual therapeutic scheme and certainly patients will benefit from more targeted treatments that provide better quality of life. For the establishment of targeted therapies it is essential to understand in a certain group of lesions the aspects of cell differentiation and its genetic basis, as well as the intracellular signaling mechanisms that orchestrate these processes.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SEDASSARI, BRUNO TAVARES; SETUBAL DESTRO RODRIGUES, MARIA FERNANDA; CONCEICAO, THALITA SANTANA; MARIANO, FERNANDA VIVIANE; FERREIRA ALVES, VENANCIO AVANCINI; NUNES, FABIO DAUMAS; ALTEMANI, ALBINA; ORSINI MACHADO DE SOUSA, SUZANA CANTANHEDE. Increased SOX2 expression in salivary gland carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma progression: an association with adverse outcome. Virchows Archiv, v. 471, n. 6, p. 775-784, DEC 2017. (16/18661-1)