Anatomic Pathology / SEX HORMONE RECEPTORS IN SALIVARY GLAND TUMORS Expression of Androgen, Estrogen, and Progesterone Receptors in Salivary Gland Tumors Frequent Expression of Androgen Receptor in a Subset of Malignant Salivary Gland Tumors

The expression of sex hormone receptors in some tumors suggests a role for these receptors in tumor pathogenesis and therapy. Previous studies of the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in salivary gland tumors have reported conflicting results. We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of androgen, estrogen, and progesterone receptors (AR, ER, and PR) in a series of 78 formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded salivary gland tumors. Immunoreactivity for AR was seen in 14 of 14 carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenomas, 6 of 6 salivary duct carcinomas, and 2 of 2 basal cell adenocarcinomas but in only 2 of 10 acinic cell carcinomas, mucoepidermoid carcinomas, and adenoid cystic carcinomas each. AR expression was distributed evenly between the sexes. ER and PR were expressed in only a few cases of salivary gland tumors. All 26 benign salivary gland tumors were negative for AR, ER, and PR. The uniform expression of AR exclusively in a subset of malignant salivary gland tumors suggests a possible role for AR in the histogenesis and possibly in the clinical management of these malignant salivary gland tumors. The development of sex hormone antagonists and their successful use in the treatment of patients with estrogen receptor (ER)and progesterone receptor (PR)-positive breast carcinomas and androgen receptor (AR)-positive prostate carcinomas has prompted investigators to evaluate the expression of these receptors in a variety of other tumors, including those arising in the salivary glands. Previous studies have focused on the expression of ER and PR in various salivary gland tumors and have reported widely disparate results.1-8 However, consistent expression of AR in salivary duct carcinoma, a highly aggressive salivary gland tumor, has been reported recently.9-13 We evaluated AR, ER, and PR expression in 78 assorted salivary gland neoplasms. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the largest and the most diverse series of salivary gland tumors to be studied for the expression of sex hormone receptors. Materials and Methods