ADAM-9 expression in intestinal-type adenocarcinoma of the sinonasal tract

Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2011 May;19(3):283-7. doi: 10.1097/PAI.0b013e3181fb57dd.

Abstract

Malignant tumors of the paranasal fossae and sinuses represent 0.2% to 0.8% of all malignant tumors in the body and 3% to 6% of other head and neck tumors. It is possible to distinguish 4 different histologic types of sinonasal malignant tumors: squamous carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma. According to the WHO classification, there are 2 main types of adenocarcinomas: intestinal-type (ITAC) and nonintestinal type. ITACs are generally connected with professional exposure to wood and leather dust. The metalloproteinase 9 (ADAM-9) is a type 1 transmembrane protein that has been associated with cancer development and metastases. Our case of poorly differentiated sinonasal ITAC showed moderate to strong cytoplasmic positivity for ADAM-9 in association with moderate membrane staining for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein. In our opinion, the expression of these proteins could explain the tumoral growth and together they could represent the most interesting targets when designing any tumor treatment scheme.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • ADAM Proteins / immunology
  • ADAM Proteins / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / physiopathology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Disease Progression
  • Epistaxis
  • Exophthalmos
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nose Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Nose Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Nose Neoplasms / pathology
  • Nose Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Paranasal Sinuses / diagnostic imaging
  • Paranasal Sinuses / pathology*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / immunology
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Respiratory Insufficiency
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • ADAM Proteins
  • ADAM9 protein, human