Immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratins and muscle-specific actin in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the immunohistochemical profile of salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma(ACC). Methods: ABC immunohistochemical staining was used to demonstrate the expression of 54Kd, 66/57Kd cytokeratins (CKs) and muscle-specific actin(MSA) in 30 cases of ACC. Results: ACC was primarily composed of 54 Kd CK positive luminal epithelial and MSA positive modified myoepithelial cells. The proliferation of both cell types in varying proportion resulted in different cellular arrangements of ACC. Conclusions: The immunoprofile of ACC,for the studied antigens,is similar to that exhibited by the duct-acinar unit of normal salivary glands.