Role of Estrogen Receptors Protein Expression in Pleomorphic Adenoma and Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of Salivary Glands

Estrogen receptors (ERs) expression has been studied in salivary gland tumors, however, there are conflicting results regarding its expression in the literatures. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of estrogen receptors protein (ERs) in pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of salivary glands using immunohistochemistry. 35 cases of intraoral minor salivary glands tumors including 20 cases of MEC and 15 cases of (PA) were examined by a light microscope and immunohistochemistry for (ERs) expression. Five cases of normal salivary glands or of normal salivary gland tissues adjacent to the tumor were also used as control. A positive brownish staining of ERs was observed in ductal cells of normal salivary gland tissues. In MEC the expression of ERs was detected in tumor cells in 10 cases out of 20 (50%). The staining was either nuclear or cytoplasmic. The positive staining was strong (+++) in 4 cases (20%), moderate (++) in 4 cases (20%) and weak (+) in 2 cases (10%). Negative staining of ERs was detected in 10 cases (50%) of MEC. All cases of PA showed negative staining for ERs. This result indicated that ERs is not frequently expressed in salivary gland tumors and it may have a role in pathogenesis of MEC, but it does not play any significant role in tumorgenises of salivary gland PA. [Metwaly H. Role of Estrogen Receptors Protein Expression in Pleomorphic Adenoma and Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of Salivary Glands. J Am Sci 2014;10(10):99-104]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.jofamericanscience.org. 17