Expressions Of The HTERTmRNA And C-myc In Salivary Gland Tumors

Objective:To investigate the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene and c-myc in salivary gland tumors ,and study its clinicopathological significance. Methods: In situ - mRNA hybridixation and immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of hTERTmRNA and c-myc protein in 10 cases of normal salivary gland tissues' 30 cases of benign salivary gland tumors and 43 cases of malignant salivary gland tumors. The relationship between hTERTmRNA expression and sex, age, tumor's size, location, histologic subtypes and differentiation of malignant tumors was analyzed by using X~2 test. Results: Expressions were all negative in 10 normal tissues. Positive rates of hTERTmRNA and c-myc protein expression were 3.3% (1/30) and 46.7%( 14/30)in benign salivary gland tumors respectively . Positive rates of hTERTmRNA and c-myc protein expression were 83.7% ( 36/43 ) and 76.7% (33/43 ) in malignant salivary gland tumors respectively . Expressions of hTERTmRNA and c-myc protein in benign and malignant salivary gland tumors had significant difference,P<0.05. The hTERTmRNA expression was not obviously correlated with sex, age, tumor's size, location, histological subtypes, P>0.05. The expressions of hTRRTmRNA and c-myc protein were also noticed to be correlated(r= 0.04492, P<0. 05).Conclusion: The expression of hTERTmRNA can be used as one of the good parameter to distinguish malignant salivary gland tumors from their benign counterparts. c-myc may play an important role in salivary gland tumors by activation of telomerase.