Background: Homeobox are a family of developmental genes involved in morphogenesis and cellular differentiation. Participation of homeobox within normal and malignant tissue has been recently discussed in the literature.
Objective: To analyze the presence of HOXB13 transcript expression in human minor salivary gland.
Material and methods: Ten-micrometer sections from frozen samples were evaluated employing non-radioactive in situ hybridization technique and HOXB13 mRNA probes.
Results: HOXB13 was found to be expressed in ducts and mucous acini but not in serous acini.
Conclusions: RESULTS suggest that HOXB13 transcripts are differently expressed in normal mucous and serous acini, and it may possibly reflect a different role in salivary gland carcinogenesis.