p63 is expressed in basal and myoepithelial cells of human normal and tumor salivary gland tissues

p63 is essential for epithelial cell survival and may function as an oncogene. We examined by immunohistochemistry p63 expression in human normal and tumor salivary gland tissues. In normal salivary glands, p63 was expressed in the nuclei of myoepithelial and basal duct cells. Among 68 representative salivary gland tumors, 63 displayed p63 reactivity. In all tumor types differentiated towards luminal and myoepithelial lineages (pleomorphic adenomas, basal cell adenomas, adenoid cystic carcinomas, and epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas), p63 was expressed in myoepithelial cells, whereas luminal cells were always negative. Similarly, in mucoepidermoid carcinomas, basal, intermediate, and squamous cells expressed p63, in contrast to luminal mucous cells. p63 reactivity was also restricted to basal cells in Warthin tumors and oncocytomas. Myoepitheliomas and myoepithelial carcinomas all expressed p63. The only five negative tumors were three of four acinar cell carcinomas and two of three adenocarcinomas. In conclusion, p63 is expressed in the nuclei of normal human salivary gland myoepithelial and basal duct cells. p63 expression is retained in the modified myoepithelial and basal cells of human salivary gland tumors, which suggests a role for p63 in oncogenesis of these complex tumors.