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. 2024 Oct 24;16(10):e72249.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.72249. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Expression of β-Catenin in Salivary Gland Tumors

Hira Batool  1 , Faria W Khan  1 , Azra Bashir  1 , Zubaria Rafique  1 , Bahar E Mustafa  2 , Kanwal Babar  1 , Akhtar Sohail Chughtai  1 , Aribah Atiq  1
Affiliations

Expression of β-Catenin in Salivary Gland Tumors

Hira Batool et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Introduction: Salivary gland tumors are an important group of neoplasms in the head and neck region. This study aims to assess the significance of β-catenin expression in both benign and malignant salivary gland tumors.

Materials and methods: We included 80 reported cases of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors and employed β-catenin stain on tumor blocks. A consultant histopathologist interpreted the β-catenin expression, and a score of 0, 1, 2, 3 was given based on intensity as completely absent, mild, moderate, or intense. Intracellular localization of β-catenin stain was interpreted as the percentage of membranous, cytoplasmic, or nuclear expression.

Results: Expression in benign and malignant classes of salivary gland tumors differs in intensity and localization. The benign category of tumors exhibited primarily membranous expression, and all cases of Warthin tumor showed intense membranous expression (p ≤ 0.05). Malignant tumors manifested chiefly cytoplasmic expression, and among the malignant category, adenoid cystic carcinoma showed intense cytoplasmic localization (p ≤ 0.05). None of the tumors showed nuclear expression.

Conclusion: Decreased membranous and increased cytoplasmic expression could predict malignant behavior and invasive potential.

Keywords: head and neck neoplasm; salivary gland tumors; warthin tumor; wnt signaling pathway; β-catenin.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Chughtai Institute of Pathology Institutional Review Board issued approval CIP/IRB/1194. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. At 400×, mild membranous β-catenin intensity in WT (A), moderate membranous intensity in WT (B), intense membranous intensity in PA (C), mild cytoplasmic intensity in CA ex PA (D), moderate cytoplasmic staining in MEC (E), and intense cytoplasmic staining in ACC (F).
WT, Warthin tumor; PA, pleomorphic adenoma; CA ex PA, carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma; MEC, mucoepidermoid carcinoma; ACC, acinic cell carcinoma.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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