Unraveling the Etiopathogenic Mechanisms of Acinic Cell Carcinoma and Secretory Carcinoma of the Salivary Gland: A Study Based on Integrative Multi-Omics Analysis

• Grant number: 24/14439-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Viviane Mariano Brum Corrêa
• Grantee: Reydson Alcides de Lima Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Salivary gland tumors (SGT) constitute a significant group of neoplasms in the field of oral and maxillofacial pathology. They are considered uncommon lesions and account for around 3-10% of all head and neck tumors. Although SGT have distinct molecular profiles and clinical behaviors, many SGT have overlapping histopathological features, making diagnosis challenging. The diagnostic challenge due to histopathological overlap. The diagnostic challenge due to histopathologic overlap is particularly evident between acinar cell carcinoma (AciCC) and secretory carcinoma (SC), as until 2010 the majority of SC cases were diagnosed as AciCC. Histologically, AciCC is characterized by serous acinar differentiation, whereas a single cell type with vacuolated, colloid-like secretory material; without cytoplasmic zymogen granules characterizes SC. The discovery of the chromosomal translocation t(12;15)(p13;q25) resulting in the ETV6::NTRK3 gene fusion specific for SC revolutionized the diagnosis of these tumors. Despite advances in knowledge of the molecular characteristics of these lesions, understanding of the etiopathogenic mechanisms, metabolic pathways, and transformation to a high-grade phenotype is still limited. Thus, the present study aims to perform a comprehensive multi-omics analysis of AciCC and SC, using next generation sequencing (NGS), fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), proteomics and metabolomics. It is hoped that the results of this study will map the molecular profiles associated with the etiopathogenic events of these lesions, contributing to substantial improvements in diagnosis, prognosis and therapy in order to translate them into clinically applicable therapies. (AU)