Rare variants of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma –differential immunohistochemical profiles

Irit Allon, Marilena Vered, Ilana Kaplan, Oded Nahlieli, Ran Yahalom, Bruria Shalmon, Samer Srouji, Alejandro Livoff

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5 Scopus citations

Abstract

We aimed to immunohistochemically characterize the pattern of expression of epithelial markers in rare head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) variants: carcinoma cuniculatum (CC) and adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC). We also present an additional variant of HNSCC with concomitant basaloid and squamous components that has overlapping morphological features with odontogenic and non-odontogenic tumors, which we termed basalo-squamous carcinoma (BSC). The selected markers included CK5/6, p40, CK19, BerEP4, p16 and SOX10. All tumors were CK5/6 and p40 positive. CK19 and BerEP4 were positive in BSC and focally in ASC but negative in CC. p16 was positive in 3 (60%) of the CCs, focally positive in ASC and negative in BSC. SOX10 was negative in all three variants. Our results highlight the plasticity of the lining epithelium revealing differential profiles of immuno-expression of the selected molecular markers, possibly reflecting their diverse histopathogenesis.

Original languageEnglish
Article number151444
JournalActa Histochemica
Volume121
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2019
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019

Keywords

  • Adenosquamous carcinoma
  • Carcinoma cuniculatum
  • Carcinoma with basaloid and squamous components
  • Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

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