HISTOLOGY AND HISTOPATHOLOGY

Cellular and Molecular Biology

 

Beta-catenin and survivin expression in keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT). A comparative immunohistochemical study in primary, recurrent and nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS)-associated lesions

R. Leonardi1, J.B. Matthews2, C. Loreto3, G. Musumeci3, G. Campisi4, L. Lo Muzio5, J.N. dos Santos6, L. Pastorino7, P. Bufo8 and G. Pannone8

1Department of Medical and Surgical Science. II Dental Unit - University of Catania, Catania, Italy, 2Unit of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 3Department of Anatomy, Diagnostic Pathology, Forensic Medicine, Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Italy, 4Department of Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, 5Section of Oral Pathology, 8Section of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy, 6Universidade Federal Da Bahia Faculdade De Odontologia Laboratório De Patologia Cirúrgica, Brazil and 7Department of Genetics - DOBIG- University of Genova, Genova, Italy.

Offprint requests to: Dr. Rosalia Leonardi, Department of Orthodontics, University of Catania, via S. Sofia n 78. Catania, Italy. e-mail: rleonard@unict.it


Summary. Aim: To determine the epithelial expression of ß-catenin and survivin in sporadic (primary, and recurrent) and nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) keratocystic odontogenic tumour (KCOT) in order to assess activation of the ß-catenin pathway and evidence of apoptotic inhibition, processes that may contribute to the known differences in their biological behaviour.
Materials and Methods: Sections from 40 cases of KCOT (19 sporadic/primary; 9 sporadic/recurrent and 12 NBCCS-associated) were immunohistochemically stained for ß-catenin and survivin. The extent and intensity of immunoreactivity within the lining epithelium was assessed, using semi-quantitative scales, independently by two pathologists who were blinded to the clinical-pathological data. Data were analysed using Kruskal-Wallis test and, for pair-wise comparisons, Mann-Whitney test with Bonferroni correction.
Results: All cystic epithelial linings stained for ß-catenin and survivin but there were differences in the pattern and intensity of staining among KCOT types. Sporadic primary KCOT showed weaker staining for ß-catenin (P=0.0003) and survivin (P<0.0048) that was restricted to the basal and para-basal layers only, compared to sporadic recurrent and NBCCS-associated KCOT, which showed expression throughout all epithelial layers. There were no differences in ß-catenin expression among recurrent and NBCCS-associated KCOT, whereas the intensity of survivin staining was higher in NBCCS-KCOT (P=0.0003). Nuclear staining for ß-catenin was found exclusively in recurrent (5/9 cases) and NBCCS-associated (4/12 cases) KCOT.
Conclusion: The data demonstrate ß-catenin delocalization and survivin over-expression in recurrent sporadic and NBCCS-associated KCOT suggesting that these pathways are related to apoptotic inhibition have a role in KCOT growth and recurrence
. Histol Histopathol 28, 1175-1184 (2013)

Key words: NBCCS, ß-catenin, Survivin, KCOT

DOI: 10.14670/HH-28.1175