Objective: To observe the expression of Schwann cell marker GFAP and myoepithelial cell marker alpha-SMA in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), and to evaluate the relationship of GFAP, alpha-SMA and perineural invasion in ACC.
Methods: Immunohistochemical SABC method, double-label immunofluorescence and CLSM were used to detect the expression of GFAP and alpha-SMA proteins in salivary ACC tissue samples.
Results: In salivary ACC tissue samples, both GFAP and alpha-SMA proteins were positive, which were coexpressed in cytoplasm of the same onco-myoepithelial cells.
Conclusions: There may be Schwann cell differentiation in onco-myoepithelial cell of salivary ACC, and it may be the pathological base of perineural invasion in salivary ACC.