Mena, a new available marker in tumors of salivary glands?

Submitted: 5 November 2011
Accepted: 13 January 2012
Published: 7 February 2012
Abstract Views: 735
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Mena (mammalian Ena) is an actin regulatory protein involved in cell motility and adhesion. Based on its potential role in malignant transformation revealed in other organs, we analyzed the Mena expression in normal salivary glands (SG) and salivary tumors. Mena expression was determined in normal SG (n=10) and also benign (n=20) and malignant (n=35) lesions of SG. For the immunohistochemical staining we used the anti-Mena antibody. All normal SG and the benign lesions (10 pleomorphic adenomas, 10 Warthin’s tumors) were Mena negative. Salivary duct carcinomas (n=5), carcinomas in pleomorphic adenoma (n=5), acinic cell carcinomas (n=5), squamous cell carcinomas (n=10) and high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas (n=2) were positive. The lymphomas (n=5) and low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas (n=1) were Mena negative. In one case the lymphoblastic cells stained positive for Mena. Some of the endothelial cells, in the peritumoral vessels, were Mena positive. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in the literature about Mena expression in salivary tumors. Our study suggests that Mena protein seems to play a role in malignant transformation and its intensity is correlated with the type and grade of tumor and also with vascular invasion. Its positivity in endothelial cells may suggest its potential role in tumor angiogenesis.

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Supporting Agencies

this paper is partially supported by the project PNII-PD 504/2010 – CNCSIS-UEFISCSU, Romania, the Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development, financed from the European Social Fund and by the Romanian Government under the contract number P
S. Gurzu, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu-Mures
Pathology
M. Krause, King's College London
Randall Division of Cell & Molecular Biophysics
I. Ember, University of Pécs
Department of Public Health
L. Azamfirei, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu-Mures
Department of Intensive Care
G. Gobel, University of Pécs
Department of Public Health
K. Feher, University of Pécs
Department of Public Health
I. Jung, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu-Mures
Department of Pathology

How to Cite

Gurzu, S., Krause, M., Ember, I., Azamfirei, L., Gobel, G., Feher, K., & Jung, I. (2012). Mena, a new available marker in tumors of salivary glands?. European Journal of Histochemistry, 56(1), e8. https://doi.org/10.4081/ejh.2012.e8