Expression levels of SIX1, ME2, and AP2M1 in adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma

Objective Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) are the most frequent malignancies in the salivary glands. The purpose of this study was to explore the roles of sineoculis homeobox homolog 1 (SIX1), malic enzyme 2 (ME2) and AP-2 complex subunit mu (AP2M1) in AdCC and MEC, as well as the potential relationship between SIX1, ME2, AP2M1 and proliferation marker cyclin D1. Material and methods Immunohistochemistry was performed on human salivary gland tissue microarrays that contained 76 normal salivary glands (NSGs), 14 pleomorphic adenomas (PMAs), 81 AdCCs and 52 MECs. Results We observed that the expression levels of SIX1 and ME2 were significantly elevated in AdCC and MEC when compared with NSG and PMA. In addition, we detected that AP2M1 was overexpressed in AdCC and MEC when compared with NSG. We also found that SIX1 and AP2M1 were positively associated with cyclin D1. Conclusions These results may prove that SIX1 and AP2M1 are involved in the proliferation of AdCC and MEC to cause tumor growth.