Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MECs) are the most common malignant tumor of the salivary glands; however, the histogenesis of MECs has been still controversial. This study was undertaken to investigate the histogenesis of MECs by the examination of their collagen gel-based coculture tissue and transplanted tumors. METHODS: Two cell lines from a primary and a metastatic MECs were established and characterized by the mutational analysis of the p53 gene and in vivo tumorigenicity in athymic nude mice. Collagen gel-based organotypic cocultures were performed, and the ultrastructural and immuncohistochemical findings were examined. RESULTS: Two cell lines demonstrated p53 point mutation at the same codon. A metastatic cell line of MEC showed in vivo tumorigenicity. Transplanted tumors and the collagen gel-based culture tissues showed poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas devoid of mucous cell differentiation; however, they disclosed the differentiation of myoepithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: MECs appear to be centered on the squamous cell differentiation, and the specific differentiation of myoepithelial or mucous cells seems to be modulated by the property of microenvironment.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 237-242 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2004 Apr |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
- Oral Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Cancer Research
- Periodontics