An immunohistochemical study of androgen receptor in carcinoma arising in pleomorphic salivary adenoma

Carcinoma originating within a pre-existing in pleomorphic adenoma is well-known phenomena and is occasionally debated in the field of surgical pathology. The use of the hormone treatment in salivary gland cancers is controversial. The management of patients who show positive reactivity to androgen receptor in prostate carcinomas has guided the researchers to assess the expression of this receptor in a variety of other tumors, including those arising in the salivary glands and particularly in carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma. Objective: Our study aimed to characterize alteration in the immunohistochemical expression of androgen receptor in the tumor cells of carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma. Study design: 20 cases of carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma (undifferentiated and adenocarcinoma types) were examined. Results: The results showed that 10 (50 %) of 20 cases had negative nuclear staining, whereas 10 (50%) of 20 cases had positive nuclear staining for androgen receptor. Conclusion: Our data suggest that carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma may be dependent on endocrine function.