Purpose: To investigate the association between Runx3 expression and progression of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma(SACC).
Methods: The expression of Runx3 was examined in 4 pairs of primary SACC and adjacent salivary gland tissues from the same patient, using real-time PCR and Western blot. Furthermore, the Runx3 protein expression was analyzed in 65 clinicopathologically characterized SACC cases by immunohistochemistry. SPSS 17.0 software package was applied to complete data processing.Chi-square test was performed to determine the prognostic and diagnostic associations.
Results: Runx3 expression was found to be remarkably downregulated in SACC tissues than that in the normal salivary gland tissues, at both mRNA and protein levels. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation of Runx3 expression with Lymph node metastasis.
Conclusions: The results suggest that Runx3 expression is associated with SACC progression, and might represent as a novel and valuable biomarker for clinical therapy of SACC patients.