Abstract:

Objective  This study aimed to investigate the expression of midkine (MK) and microvessel density (MVD) in patients with salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) and its clinical significance, as well as detect the correlation between the expression of MK and MVD in SACC. Methods  Immunohistochemistry analysis (SP method) for MK and MVD were performed on 60 cases of SACC and 26 cases of normal salivary gland tissue. The expression of MK and MVD, as well as the correlation between the expression of MK and MVD in SACC were detected. Results  In SACC, the MK expression rate was 70.0% (42/60), and MK was not expressed in normal tissue. Statistical significance was found between SACC and normal tissue (P<0.05). The MVD values in SACC and normal salivary gland tissues were 38.73±8.96 and 11.15±3.33, respectively. These values were statistically significant (P<0.05). The expression levels of MK and MVD were unrelated to age, gender, and type in SACC (P>0.05), but correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and tumor–node–metastasis in SACC (P<0.05). The expression of MK and MVD was positively correlated with SACC (r=0.560, P<0.05). Conclusion  SACC is correlated with the expression of MK protein and the increase in MVD, which may be some of the early diagnostic markers in SACC.

Key words: salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma, midkine, microvessel density, immunohistochemistry, salivary gland