Work

Expression of cancer stem cell marker CD44 in salivary gland tumors

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Although salivary gland tumors (SGTs) are relatively rare neoplasms, they attract considerable attention in head-and-neck pathology due to their diverse biological behavior. Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common benign SGT, whereas mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) are among the most frequent malignant counterparts. CD44 is a cell surface glycoprotein and a well-established cancer stem cell marker that plays an important role in cell migration, adhesion, tumor invasion, and cancer prognosis. Since high levels of CD44 are expressed in many malignant tumors, it may contribute to carcinogenesis and the aggressive behavior of certain malignancies. However, its diagnostic and prognostic role in SGTs remains insufficiently clarified. The present study aimed to evaluate CD44 expression in two malignant SGTs and compare the findings with PA as a benign reference, highlighting the gap in knowledge regarding CD44 in these tumors. Materials and Methods: < 0.05. Results: CD44 expression in malignant tumors was significantly higher than in PA. Pairwise comparison of CD44 immunoreactivity between the malignant groups revealed no statistical difference. However, a significant increase in CD44 expression was observed with increasing histological grade of MEC. No correlation was found between CD44 immunoexpression and patient age, gender, and lesion location. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that CD44 was significantly overexpressed in malignant SGTs compared with PAs, suggesting a potential role in carcinogenesis and tumor aggressiveness. This study highlights the potential of CD44 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in SGTs and underlines the need for further large-scale investigations to evaluate its clinical utility in targeted therapies.

Source: Dental Research Journal

DOI: 10.4103/drj.drj_429_25

Authors: Nasrollah Saghravanian, Narges Ghazi, Niloofar Saghravanian

Institution: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Salivary Gland Tumors Diagnosis and Treatment

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $200