Apoptotic signaling in salivary mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Background: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of salivary glands. Apoptosis plays an important role in organogenesis of glandular structures, and aberrations of apoptotic mechanisms is associated with a wide array of pathologic conditions.

Methods: The immunoexpression of proteins associated with apoptosis and proliferation was evaluated in 40 mucoepidermoid carcinoma cases.

Expression of stem cell markers in oral cavity and oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of CD24, CD44, CD133, ALDH1, CD29 (integrin-β1), and Ki-67 in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx.

Study Design: Fifty-two tumors and 21 metastatic lymph nodes were evaluated by using immunohistochemistry.

Results: Seven of 52 cases (13.

Apoptosis-associated protein expression in human salivary gland morphogenesis.

Objective: Salivary gland (SG) development is based on branching morphogenesis, in which programmed cell death has been proposed to play a role in cell signalling and organ shaping. In the mouse salivary gland apoptosis has been suggested to play a key role in lumen formation, removing the central cells of the epithelial stalks. Here we analyse the expression of several anti- and pro-regulators of apoptosis during human SG development in a range of developmental stages.

CD24 and CD44 in salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma and in human salivary gland morphogenesis: differential markers of glandular structure or stem cell indicators?

Aims: Salivary gland neoplasms originate from salivary gland compartments, to which they are histologically related. Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is a benign salivary gland neoplasm that comprises epithelial and myoepithelial cells and a complex stroma, whose structure, architecture and origin (from intercalated ducts) suggest stem cell participation. We compared the expression of CD24 and CD44 in PA and in developing human salivary glands to investigate whether these markers can be considered as cancer stem cell markers.

CD44/CD24 immunophenotypes on clinicopathologic features of salivary glands malignant neoplasms.

Background: Salivary glands malignant neoplasms (SGMNs) account for 3-6% of head and neck cancers and 0.3% of all cancers. Tumor cells that express CD44 and CD24 exhibit a stem-cell-like behavior.