Immunohistochemical expression of p63 in pleomorphic adenomas and carcinomas ex-pleomorphic adenomas of salivary glands.

Alteration of the p63 protein expression has been associated with several human cancers including salivary gland tumors. We sought to assess the p63 expression in pleomorphic adenomas (PA) and carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenomas (Ca ex-PA), since this protein has been related to myoepithelial phenotype and the biological behavior of cancer. Ten samples of PA and ten of Ca ex-PA were submitted to immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal anti-p63 antibody, clone 4A4. p63 was regularly expressed in myoepithelial cells' nuclei of the normal glandular parenchyma and in PA, but it was completely absent in five out of the ten samples of Ca ex-PA. (P < 0.05 by Fisher's exact test). Apparently, only those cases depicting some myoepithelial differentiation were positive. Our data suggest that loss of myoepithelial differentiation is important in the evolution of Ca ex-PA, and corroborate the hypothesis that p63 antigen may be a useful marker of myoepithelial cells in salivary glands neoplasms.