Secretory carcinoma of the salivary gland is rich in lactoferrin: a possible lactational-like differentiation?

Author(s)

Custodio, Marcos ; Nunes, Fabio Daumas ; Altemani, Albina ; Passador-Santos, Fabricio ; Rodrigues, Maria Fernanda Setubal Destro ; de Sousa, Suzana C. O. M. ; Sedassari, Bruno Tavares

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: EUROPEAN ARCHIVES OF OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGY; v. 280, n. 8, p. 6-pg., 2023-05-25.

Abstract

PurposeIt has been hypothesised that secretory carcinoma of the salivary gland (SCsg) might have a lactational-like differentiation. Therefore, we aimed to assess the immunoexpression of breast hormonal receptors and milk-related proteins in cases of SCsg and other salivary gland tumours with prominent secretory activity.MethodsImmunohistochemistry against prolactin and growth hormone receptors, lactoferrin, human milk fat globule 1, MUC 1 and MUC4 was performed in twelve cases of SCsg and 47 other salivary gland tumours.ResultsMost cases of SCsg were negative for prolactin and growth hormone receptors. All cases of SCsg showed enhanced membranous-cytoplasmic staining for human milk fat globule 1, a pattern seen in other tumour groups. Only SCsg showed widespread strong staining for lactoferrin, concomitantly in the cell compartment and secretion. The other positive tumour types exhibited restricted staining. MUC1 and MUC4 showed no distinct pattern of expression.ConclusionAlthough SCsg failed to demonstrate a complete lactational-like differentiation, lactoferrin showed a distinctive expression pattern in SCsg compared to other tumour types, which makes it a good marker to help in its differential diagnosis. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/04546-9 - Study of lactational-like differentiation in mammary analogue secretory carcinoma of salivary gland origin
• Grantee: Suzana Cantanhede Orsini Machado de Sousa
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants