Abstract:

Objective　To study the expression of p16 and nm23 genes in salivary gland tumors and the relation of P16 and nm23 proteins with tumorigenesis of salivary gland tumors.Methods　Expression of P16 and nm23 proteins was examined by SABC immunohistochemical method in 39 cases of paraffin blocks of normal salivary gland tissues and salivary gland tumors.Re- sults　P16 and nm23 protein positive stainingwere mainly found in the cytoplasm and cytoblast of all salivary gland tissues. Posi- tive rate of P16 protein expressionwas 76·9%(10/13) and 40·9%(9/22) in benign and malignant salivary gland tumors, respec- tively. There was signioficant difference between P16 protein expression of benign and malignant tumors byχ2test (P<0·05). nm23 protein positive stainingwas found in 84·6%(11/13) and 45·5%(10/22) of benign and malignant tumors respectively. The expression of nm23 protein in benign and malignant tumorswas significantly different (P<0·05). There was no correlation of the expression of P16 and nm23 in salivary gland tumors was found (P>0·05).Conclusion　p16 and nm23 genes may play an im- portant role in different sides in salivary gland tumorigenesis and the reduce of the expression of p16 and nm23 genes may contrib- ute to the generation of malignant salivary gland tumors.

Key words: p16 gene, nm23 gene, salivary gland tumors, immunohistochemistry