A case of “ETV6-FISH-negative” secretory carcinoma of the parotid gland: immunohistochemical study

• Published in: Medical molecular morphology Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 296 - 300
• Main Authors: Harada, Hiroshi, Irie, Koji, Nakatsuka, Shin-ichi, Sasaguri, Takakazu, Honma, Keiichiro, Kurose, Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.09.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Actin; Aged; Anatomy; Androgen receptors; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Cancer; ETS Translocation Variant 6 Protein; Fluorescence in situ hybridization; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Gene fusion; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins - analysis; Keratins - genetics; Letter to the Editor; Male; Mammary Analogue Secretory Carcinoma - diagnosis; Mammary Analogue Secretory Carcinoma - metabolism; Mammary Analogue Secretory Carcinoma - pathology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Molecular Medicine; NTRK3 gene; Parotid gland; Parotid Neoplasms - diagnosis; Parotid Neoplasms - metabolism; Parotid Neoplasms - pathology; Pathology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets - analysis; Repressor Proteins - analysis; S100 protein; S100 Proteins - analysis; S100 Proteins - genetics; Salivary gland; Smooth muscle; STAT5 Transcription Factor - analysis; STAT5 Transcription Factor - genetics; Vimentin; Immunohistochemistry; Secretory carcinoma; gene; pSTAT5; Fluorescence in situ hybridization; ETV6 gene
• ISSN: 1860-1480; 1860-1499
• DOI: 10.1007/s00795-020-00276-0

Secretory carcinoma of the salivary glands is a relatively new disease concept, and is characterized by “morphological resemblance to mammary secretory carcinoma and ETV6–NTRK3 gene fusion.” Herein we describe a confusing case and briefly discuss practical diagnostic problems. The patient was a 71-year-old Japanese man who had a tumor consistent with secretory carcinoma at the microscopic and immunohistochemical levels. Immunohistochemically, EMA and S100 protein were noted to be positive along with various cytokeratins as well as mammaglobin and pSTAT5. Moreover, vimentin was focally positive. Smooth muscle actin, p63, p40, and androgen receptor were negative. However, a search using fluorescence in situ hybridization did not reveal a definite split signal for the ETV6 gene. It is presumed that confirming the diagnosis of secretory carcinoma without genetic retrieval will be accepted as a diagnostic method, and we hope that worldwide general recognition may earlier reach “gradual acceptance.”