Everipedia Logo
Everipedia is now IQ.wiki - Join the IQ Brainlist and our Discord for early access to editing on the new platform and to participate in the beta testing.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma

Adenoid cystic carcinoma

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare type of cancer that can exist in many different body sites. This tumor most often occurs in the salivary glands, but it can also be found in many anatomic sites, including the breast,[1][2] lacrimal gland, lung, brain, bartholin gland, trachea, and the paranasal sinuses.

It is the third-most common malignant salivary gland tumor overall (after mucoepidermoid carcinoma and polymorphous adenocarcinoma). It represents 28% of malignant submandibular gland tumors, making it the single most common malignant salivary gland tumor in this region. Patients may survive for years with metastases because this tumor is generally well-differentiated and slow growing. In a 1999 study[3] of a cohort of 160 ACC patients, disease-specific survival was 89% at 5 years, but only 40% at 15 years, reflecting deaths from late-occurring metastatic disease.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma
Other namesAdenocyst, Malignant cylindroma, Adenocystic, Adenoidcystic
Micrograph of an adenoid cystic carcinoma of a salivary gland (right of image): Normal serous glands, typical of the parotid gland, are also seen (left of image), H&E stain.
SpecialtyOncology

Cause

Activation of the oncogenic transcription factor gene MYB is the key genomic event of ACC and seen in the vast majority of cases.[4][5] Most commonly, MYB is activated through gene fusion with the transcription factor encoding NFIB gene as a result of a t(6;9) translocation.[4] Alternatively, MYB is activated by copy number gain or by juxtaposition of enhancer elements in the vicinity of the MYB gene.[6] In a subset of ACCs, the closely related MYBL1 gene is fused to NFIB or to other fusion partners.[7][8]

MYB drives proliferation of ACC cells and regulates genes involved in cell cycle control, DNA replication and repair, and RNA processing.[9] Thus, the MYB oncogene is a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in ACC.

ACC has a relatively quiet genome with few recurrent copy number alterations or point mutations,[6][10][11][12] consistent with the view that MYB and MYBL1 are the main oncogenic drivers of the disease.

Treatment

Primary treatment for this cancer, regardless of body site, is surgical removal with clean margins. This surgery can prove challenging in the head and neck region due to this tumor's tendency to spread along nerve tracts. Adjuvant or palliative radiotherapy is commonly given following surgery. For advanced major and minor salivary gland tumors that are inoperable, recurrent, or exhibit gross residual disease after surgery, fast neutron therapy is widely regarded as the most effective form of treatment.[13][14][15][16] Chemotherapy is used for metastatic disease. Chemotherapy is considered on a case-by-case basis, as data on the positive effects of chemotherapy are limited. Clinical studies are ongoing, however.

Images

Coronal MRI showing right parotid adenoid cystic carcinoma with perineural spread of tumor: The tumor originates in the right parotid gland and spreads along the trigeminal nerve via the auricuotemporal branch extending intracranially through the foramen ovale at the skull base towards Meckel's cave.
Coronal MRI showing right parotid adenoid cystic carcinoma with perineural spread of tumor along the facial nerve extending to the stylomastoid foramen
Histopathological image of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland infiltrating a nerve (center), H&E stain
Histopathological image of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland, immunostain for S-100 protein
Micrograph of adenoid cystic carcinoma, fine needle aspiration specimen, Pap stain
Adenoid cystic carcinoma with comedonecrosis

See also

  • Primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma

  • Collagenous spherulosis

References

[1]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20203221Marchiò C, Weigelt B, Reis-Filho JS (Mar 2010). "Adenoid cystic carcinomas of the breast and salivary glands (or 'The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' of exocrine gland carcinomas)". J Clin Pathol. 63 (3): 220–8. doi:10.1136/jcp.2009.073908. PMID 20203221.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[2]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25185745Fusco N, Guerini-Rocco E, Schultheis AM, Badve SS, Reis-Filho JS, Weigelt B (Feb 2015). "The birth of an adenoid cystic carcinoma". Int J Surg Pathol. 23 (1): 26–7. doi:10.1177/1066896914548795. PMID 25185745.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[3]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10037280Fordice, Jim; Kershaw, Corey; El-Naggar, Adel; Goepfert, Helmuth (February 1999). "Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Predictors of Morbidity and Mortality". Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. 125 (2): 149–52. doi:10.1001/archotol.125.2.149. PMID 10037280.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[4]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19841262Persson M, Andrén Y, Mark J, Horlings HM, Persson F, Stenman G (2009). "Recurrent fusion of MYB and NFIB transcription factor genes in carcinomas of the breast and head and neck". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 106 (44): 18740–4. doi:10.1073/pnas.0909114106. PMC 2773970. PMID 19841262.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[5]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27101980Andersson MK, Stenman G (2016). "The landscape of gene fusions and somatic mutations in salivary gland neoplasms - Implications for diagnosis and therapy". Oral Oncol. 57: 63–9. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2016.04.002. PMID 27101980.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[6]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22505352Persson M, Andrén Y, Moskaluk CA, Frierson HF Jr, Cooke SL, Futreal PA, Kling T, Nelander S, Nordkvist A, Persson F, Stenman G (2012). "Clinically significant copy number alterations and complex rearrangements of MYB and NFIB in head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma". Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 51 (8): 805–17. doi:10.1002/gcc.21965. PMID 22505352.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[7]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26631070Brayer KJ, Frerich CA, Kang H, Ness SA (2016). "Recurrent Fusions in MYB and MYBL1 Define a Common, Transcription Factor-Driven Oncogenic Pathway in Salivary Gland Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma". Cancer Discov. 622 (2): 176–87. doi:10.1158/2159-8290.CD-15-0859. PMC 4744535. PMID 26631070.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[8]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26631609Mitani Y, Liu B, Rao PH, Borra VJ, Zafereo M, Weber RS, Kies M, Lozano G, Futreal PA, Caulin C, El-Naggar AK (2016). "Novel MYBL1 Gene Rearrangements with Recurrent MYBL1-NFIB Fusions in Salivary Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas Lacking t(6;9) Translocations". Clin Cancer Res. 22 (3): 725–33. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-15-2867-T. PMC 4807116. PMID 26631609.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[9]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28954282Andersson MK, Afshari MK, Andrén Y, Wick MJ, Stenman G (2017). "Targeting the Oncogenic Transcriptional Regulator MYB in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma by Inhibition of IGF1R/AKT Signaling". J Natl Cancer Inst. 109 (9). doi:10.1093/jnci/djx017. PMID 28954282.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[10]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23685749Ho AS, Kannan K, Roy DM, Morris LG, Ganly I, Katabi N, Ramaswami D, Walsh LA, Eng S, Huse JT, Zhang J, Dolgalev I, Huberman K, Heguy A, Viale A, Drobnjak M, Leversha MA, Rice CE, Singh B, Iyer NG, Leemans CR, Bloemena E, Ferris RL, Seethala RR, Gross BE, Liang Y, Sinha R, Peng L, Raphael BJ, Turcan S, Gong Y, Schultz N, Kim S, Chiosea S, Shah JP, Sander C, Lee W, Chan TA (2013). "The mutational landscape of adenoid cystic carcinoma". Nat Genet. 45 (7): 791–8. doi:10.1038/ng.2643. PMC 3708595. PMID 23685749.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[11]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23778141Stephens PJ, Davies HR, Mitani Y, Van Loo P, Shlien A, Tarpey PS, Papaemmanuil E, Cheverton A, Bignell GR, Butler AP, Gamble J, Gamble S, Hardy C, Hinton J, Jia M, Jayakumar A, Jones D, Latimer C, McLaren S, McBride DJ, Menzies A, Mudie L, Maddison M, Raine K, Nik-Zainal S, O'Meara S, Teague JW, Varela I, Wedge DC, Whitmore I, Lippman SM, McDermott U, Stratton MR, Campbell PJ, El-Naggar AK, Futreal PA (2013). "Whole exome sequencing of adenoid cystic carcinoma". J Clin Invest. 123 (7): 2965–8. doi:10.1172/JCI67201. PMC 3999050. PMID 23778141.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[12]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26862087Rettig EM, Talbot CC Jr, Sausen M, Jones S, Bishop JA, Wood LD, Tokheim C, Niknafs N, Karchin R, Fertig EJ, Wheelan SJ, Marchionni L, Considine M, Fakhry C, Papadopoulos N, Kinzler KW, Vogelstein B, Ha PK, Agrawal N (2013). "Whole-Genome Sequencing of Salivary Gland Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma". Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 9 (4): 265–74. doi:10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-15-0316. PMC 4818686. PMID 26862087.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[13]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3114190Laramore, GE (September 1987). "Fast neutron radiotherapy for inoperable salivary gland tumors: is it the treatment of choice?". International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. 13 (9): 1421–3. doi:10.1016/0360-3016(87)90240-9. PMID 3114190.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[14]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8949762Prott FJ, Haverkamp U, Willich N, Wagner W, Micke O, Pötter R (1996). "Ten years of fast neutron therapy in Münster". Bulletin du Cancer. Radiothérapie. 83 (Suppl): 115s–21s. doi:10.1016/0924-4212(96)84895-x. PMID 8949762.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[15]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10701733Douglas, James G; Laramore, George E; Austin-Seymour, Mary; Koh, Wui-jin; Stelzer, Keith; Griffin, Thomas W (February 2000). "Treatment of locally advanced adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck with neutron radiotherapy". International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. 46 (3): 551–7. doi:10.1016/S0360-3016(99)00445-9. PMID 10701733.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[16]
Citation Link//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10897760Breteau N, Wachter T, Kerdraon R, et al. (2000). "Utilisation des neutrons rapides dans le traitement des tumeurs des glandes salivaires : rationnel, revue de la littérature et expérience d'Orléans" [Use of fast neutrons in the treatment of tumors of the salivary glands: rationale, review of the literature and experience in Orleans]. Cancer/Radiothérapie (in French). 4 (3): 181–90. doi:10.1016/S1278-3218(00)89092-7. PMID 10897760.
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[17]
Citation Linkprogenetix.orgM8200/3
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[18]
Citation Linkwww.nlm.nih.govD003528
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[19]
Citation Linkclinicaltrials.gov[1]
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM
[20]
Citation Linkwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov[2]
Sep 19, 2019, 8:16 PM