Expression of p16 and p73 in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland

Abstract

We did immunohistochemical staining for the expression of p16 and p73 to examine the cell proliferating ability in three different histological patterns of adenoid cystic carcinomas(aCC).In cribriform aCC, the p16 immunoexpression was observed in the nuclei of the inner cells of the cancer nests, while p73 was observed in the nuclei of the peripheral cells of the cancer nests and the cells facing pseudocysts. In tubular aCC, tubules were composed of two layer cells and the immunoexpression of p16 was observed in the ductal cells surrounding lumen, while p73 was observed in the nuclei of the outermost cells in the tumor nests. In solid aCC, p16-positive cells and p73-positive cells were intermingled in cancer nests. These findings suggest that p16 and p73 might be associated with cell proliferation.