Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Pivot Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Target Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Query: EC:3.2.1.23 (
beta-galactosidase
)
14,648
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
Adenoid cystic carcinoma
(
ACC
) is characterized by persistent, relentless growth and a high rate of eventual metastasis. In contrast, polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) has a much lower risk of recurrence and rarely metastasizes. The histologic patterns of these two neoplasms can be similar. Expression of c-kit, a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase, has recently been reported to be expressed in
ACC
but not PLGA. Expression of galectin-3, a nonintegrin
beta-galactosidase
-binding lectin, has been reported to be significant in PLGA and decreased in
ACC
.Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from 9
ACC
and 14 PLGA were immunostained for c-kit and galectin-3. Cases were scored as 1+ (5-25% positive), 2+ (26-50% positive), or 3+ (>50% positive). C-kit was expressed by 100% of
ACC
(3+: 7 cases; 2+: 1 case; 1+: 1 case) and by 57% of PLGA (2+: 2 cases; 1+: 6 cases). In all but one
ACC
, c-kit expression was confined to the inner cell layer. C-kit expression was also noted in the intercalated duct epithelium of the salivary glands and the acinar cells of the lacrimal gland. Galectin-3 was expressed in 8 of 9 cases of
ACC
and 14 of 14 cases of PLGA. The results of this, the first study to compare c-kit and galectin-3 expression in
ACC
and PLGA, suggest that c-kit expression characterizes
ACC
, but not PLGA. Galectin-3 immunohistochemistry does not have a role in the differentiation of
ACC
and PLGA. C-kit immunostaining may be a valuable adjunctive tool for this differential diagnosis, particularly in the setting of a limited biopsy. Our finding of different patterns of c-kit expression in tubular and solid variants of
ACC
supports the concept of solid variant
ACC
as a high-grade tumor, with progression toward an entirely "inner cell" phenotype.
...
PMID:C-kit expression distinguishes salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma from polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma. 1211 4
