E-CADERIN, N-CADERIN, SLUG, SNAIL, and TWIST contribute to epithelial-mesenchymal transition in salivary gland tumors.

Background: Transcription factors are important in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process and are possibly related to the development of a more invasive tumor phenotype. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the expression and identify the localization of cellular markers related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process in salivary gland tumors.

Study Design: The expression and localization of E-CADERIN, N-CADERIN, SLUG, SNAIL, and TWIST were evaluated, using immunohistochemistry, in 48 salivary gland tumors, being 17 pleomorphic adenomas (PA), 14 adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC), and 17 mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MEC). these proteins were compared to clinical and histopathologic parameters. normal gland tissues were included for immunohistochemical comparisons.

Results: ACC and MEC cases showed higher expression of SNAIL compared to PA. MEC showed high expression of SLUG and TWIST. Low expression of N-CADHERIN, SNAIL, and TWIST in ACC was frequent in T3 and T4. High expression of TWIST in MEC was more frequent at age ≥ 40 years A positive correlation was only observed between N-cadherin/SNAIL in ACC, between SNAIL/TWIST in MEC, and between SLUG/TWIST in PA.

Conclusion: This study provided insight into EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, SNAIL, SLUG, and TWIST) and their contribution to the maintenance of morphogenesis and the development of the salivary gland tumors and showed a positive correlation among N-CADHERIN/SNAIL in ACC and SNAIL/TWIST in MEC.