BACKGROUND: Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 have been found in many tumors, including salivary gland neoplasms (SGN). However, there is not consensus about the influence of p53 protein expression on the biological behavior of SGN. OBJECTIVES: To compare the expression of p53 between benign and malignant neoplasms, among histologic subtypes of those tumors, and among (1) tumors that did not metastasize; (2) primary lesions that emitted metastasis; and (3) metastasis of SGN, by immunohistochemistry. MATERIAL AND METHOD: It was evaluated 16 cases of pleomorphic adenoma (PA), 17 samples of primary malignant tumors that did not metastasize throughout preservation (seven adenoid cystic carcinoma [ACC] and ten mucoepidermoid carcinomas [MC]), 13 malignant neoplasms that emitted metastasis (nine ACC and four MC) and 12 regional or distant metastasis (five ACC and seven MC) by immunohistochemical detection of p53 antigen (streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method). Statistical analyses were performed by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. p value below 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A significant difference between benign and malignant lesions (p = 0.03) and among different histological types (p = 0.02) was observed, notably between PA and MC. Malignant lesions with distinct biological behavior did not differ according to this analysis.
P53 proteins; Salivary gland tumors; Metastasis, Prognosis
