FASN AND GLUT-1 EXPRESSION IN THE PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMA AND CARCINOMA EX-PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMA

Carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA) arises in pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and with an increase in lipogenesis during its malignant transformation. The increase in lipogenesis is a feature of the cancer cells and it is characterized by the increase of fatty acid (FA) synthesis. This way, the overexpression of the enzyme fatty acid synthase (fasn) has been correlated. In the same way, the increase of glycolytic metabolism in neoplastic cells is due to the high expression of glycolytic enzymes and glucose transporters (gluts). Objective: Compare the fasn and glut-1 expression between CXPAs and PAs samples. Study Design: Forty PA and 40 CXPA were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with fasn and glut-1 antibodies. The proportion of positive neoplastic cells was assessed according to a 2-tiered scale: >10% to 50%, and >50% positive cells. Results: Fifteen PA (37.5%) and 30 CXPA (75%) were fasn positive. Twenty PA (20%) and 29 CXPA (70%) were glut-1 positive. Conclusions: The present results suggest that fasn and glut-1 enzyme overexpression are associated with the malignant transformation of the PA. This way, the increase of the lipogenesis and glycolytic metabolism should be collaborative factors for carcinogenesis since cancer requires a highest demand of energy for survival and progression.