Study On The Expression Of Cyclin D3 And Ki-67 In Salivary Gland Acinic Cell Carcinoma

Background: Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) of salivary gland is a relatively rare neoplasm. Despite being regarded as low-grade malignancies, most of ACCs are infiltrative and are sometimes associated with recurrence and metastasis. Deregulation of cell cycle plays a key role in tumor development and progression. Cyclin D3 is a critical factor in regulating G1-S transition. Ki-67 is often used to evaluate cell proliferative capacity due to its continuous expression in proliferating cells. Up to now, limited reports on the relationship between cell cycle and ACC development could be found. Especially we know little about the role of cyclin D3 in the tumorigenesis, clinical and histopathologic features of ACC.Objective: The aim of the present study is to investigate the expression of cyclin D3 and Ki-67 in ACCs and assess their roles in the carcinogenesis and development of ACC.Furthermore,we want to evaluate the possibility of using them as the biological markers of ACC for clinical arrangement and prognosis.Methods: The SP immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of cyclin D3 and Ki-67 in 34 cases of ACC and 10 cases of normal salivary gland(NSG). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 11.5 for windows.Results:(1)The label index (LI) of cyclin D3 was higher in ACC group (3.4±2.7%) than that in NSG (1.0±1.2%) (P < 0.05). Cyclin D3 LI was significantly different between recurrence group (5.3±3.3%) and no recurrence group (2.7±2.5%) (P < 0.05). The LI of cyclin D3 had no relationship with sex, age, tumor sites, and growth patterns groups (P > 0.05). (2)The LI of Ki-67 was significantly higher in ACC group (5.7±3.6%) than that in NSG (0.1±0.3%) (P < 0.05). The LI of Ki-67 in minor salivary gland ACC (3.6±3.7%) was lower than that in parotid gland ACC (7.0±3.4%) (P < 0.05). The LI of Ki-67 had a significant difference between recurrence group (8.1±2.6%) and no recurrence group (5.1±3.9%) (P < 0.05). The LI of Ki-67 was not correlated with sex, age, and growth patterns groups (P > 0.05). (3) The expression of cyclin D3 had a positive correlation with that of Ki-67 (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The expression of Cyclin D3might play certain roles in accelerating the progress of cell cycle and promoting cell proliferation . Cyclin D3 expression also related with the recurrence of ACC in our stdudy. Ki-67 appears to be a significant prognostic factor in ACC. Combined analysis of the expression of cyclin D3 and Ki-67 could be useful for us to make the diagnosis and prognosis of ACC.