Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Observations on Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of Salivary Glands with Special Reference to Intermediate Filaments and Proteoglycan Particles

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of salivary gland origin, intermediate filaments of tumour cells were investigated by immunohistochemical techniques and complex carbohydrates within the pseudocysts by ultrastructural methods. The intermediate filament proteins vimentin and cytokeratin were found in most neoplastic cells. The pseudocysts of the tumours were found to contain proteoglycan particles stainable after glutaraldehyde fixation-but not after osmium fixation alone. Ruthenium red (cationic dye) enhanced the staining whereas periodic acid-chromic acid-silver methenaminene staining or phosphotungstic acid staining did not visualize the proteoglycan particles mainly containing acid proteoglycans which are normally produced by mesenchymal tissue. The cells of adenoid cystic carcinoma thus have an intermediate filament content and produce complex carbohydrates characteristic of both epithelial and mesenchymal tissue. Hence, an origin in an undifferentiated pluripotential cell seems plausible.